The Last Dukes (British Aristocracy Documentary) | Real Stories
On 9th September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest serving British monarch. One of the most enduring images of her coronation in 1953 is that of Her Majesty surrounded by her dukes. Their influence once extended beyond the merely ceremonial, they were a crucial part of the architecture that supported the monarchy. Only 24 noble dukes now remain and this documentary - with unique access to the dukes of Norfolk, Argyll, Montrose and Marlborough - explores both the fascinating history and function of their great dukedoms in modern day Britain.
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Produced by Spun Gold
My favorites; "I was supposed to be playing the piano but all I wanted to do was play with the dagger""Everyone went out to London but I had to go home because my Mother was cooking an ox"
In the U.S. it is spelled "favorites".
@Rosida Andriyana Critical much? And I noticed the original post is gone regarding the spelling.
Such a LOVELY lady she is!
"I appreciate enormously what I've got. But I think like maybe my father, if I hadn't had it, I would have had a happier life, or a more fulfilled one." What strange, confusing, yet incredibly interesting lives these people live.
I felt a little sorry for her. She seemed like a nice lady.
The world needs these aristocrats to keep it balance I wish the parliament of Great Britain was control by the aristocrats. I don't like buttu, most third world countries are run by commoners and that is why they are third world. Long live the aristocrats.
TheShockmaster
Per Ke Ehm, really? All rich western countries are run by commoners.
In response to your comment. Would you happen to have an Email address for Lady Camilla?
the first duke in the beginning of the documentary had me cracking up. he has so many titles that he couldn't remember one of them lmao
I know. He looked confused. I wanted him to just say 'Hey I'm Bob' or something! LOL
Poor man inherited out of the blue later in life, I would be confused too!
He didn't seem to care much that he forgot.
He doesn’t even live in the UK. He’s South African.
@@VLove-CFII oh ok that explains his accent lol
i'm far too addicted to these docs
Aurielle Yep. Same here. And I don't even understand it, why is it so fascinating?
Aurielle I don't even watch TV anymore lol
Dude. Me, too.
Aurielle i
Aurielle for real.....
4:50 'My mother liked the servants to be tall' , 'actually one of the servants is my real father'
lol judging by her height i thought the exact same thing
nice jk
When did she say that?
Who whould brag ab9ut being servant lol
@@EmperorBl8 + IN those days and even until the 1980's, they were proud of being servants to royalty. All over the world ..its like that. Even today, if you talk to any decendant, they say the same thing.
I felt so sorry for young Camilla. Her mother left her when she left her husband, she had a terrible step mother, and they didn't give her a title because she was a girl. And she was away at boarding school... which I guess was better than staying with her father and the step monster. All the money she inherited could never have replaced the emotional support a girl her age needed.
I have the same story as the lady, but I'm just not part of royal family. Yes, it's hard on us. But like every problem, somehow it's bearable and you just moving forward, living...
stiras1 Regardless of how crappy their parenting was, they couldn't have given her the title even if they had wanted to. The rules are sexist.
I think her story would make a nice film.
@@TwiFiveGirls101 Actually, I've started on a 3rd movie script since I last contacted you. It doesn't appear I'll live long enough for the UK parliament to come to a decisive decision on the BREXIT issue.
She seems very self-aware. I bet her story is interesting.
I felt really bad for Lady Camilla. Her mother ran away and left her dad and daughter. And then her dad remarried to an evil witch. That must have been tough, having her mother abandon her.. Very interesting documentary! I always dreamed of living in a castle :)
Yeah, I really liked her as a person, and appreciated her candid opinion on her life. Profound that she says it was a happy life, but not fulfilled. Money really can't buy everything.
Why did her father have such poor taste in women?
ParadiseLost Ikr? It’s like one of those disney movies or even regency romance novels.
yeah all three of his wives were honestly not very nice
Takes a special kind of heartless woman to run out on her husband and kid.
their houses make me feel like I live on the streets lol
lysol5555 lmaooooo
For real though, the Marlborough estate is insane!
Those born in nobility seems humble and kind while the people who are married into nobility is snobbish.
Karen Patterson He might not be a native. How many languages do YOU speak?
@@anianowak6232 👍👍👍👍👑😊
I guarantee you they are not kind 💀 they just know how to act the part
@@SevilleOrange Maybe ~~ but I have noticed that people who are born into money are much more civil and treat others with respect or even kind and those who come into money usually are snobby or rude.
@@reinamatheny9972 I think they receive this kind of training from young it’s like a PR thing. Can’t have the super rich upsetting the “commoners” so they learn ways to appear humble for their public appearances. That’s not to say that people from new money couldn’t learn a thing or two just for civility’s sake..
When you can't remember your own titles #JustRoyalThings
ooh could never forget you
that's why they colonized you guys, so you keep track for them. I still see some proudly carrying their last names.
Sita S me too lol
They're not royals though...nobility.
@@ivylasangrienta6093 #JustAristocraticThings
From the mouth of Lady Rosemary Spencer Churchill: "I just hate things on a slant." "I couldn't stay long [at the Queen's coronation], because my mother was roasting an ox in the park; I had to get home."
Food takes precedent no matter what. Unless there's more food.
LOL. When I first heard the ox thing, I thought she was joking in that sardonic British way. But no, there was an actual ox, it was actually cooked, and there are pictures of her mother slicing up that ox. That's the random, very weird stuff that just happens to aristocracy....
She's hilarious, I'd love to watch more interviews with her.:)
Bousom
Don't forget her story about having to practise on the piano but much rather was playing with the dagger. Lovely and interesting person indeed.
Lol the lady is so me. When your friends are out partying and stuff but you gotta be home for dinners and chores lol
Carving up an ox lmao
@@kaberus7565 mainly chickens but you never know what my mum might think of next... :')
I think this is quite fascinating - the monarchs draw in tourism due to the charm of British culture. So i dont find their existence a waste especially with the history attached to their stories
4foryouglencoco Yeah. I’m one of those people who’s fascinated by History.
It is only a waste when they are given any power in any meaningful way like they did before. Now, they are just like the Queen. Decorative and just an object for our fascination.
I would say it's the buildings, monuments and such that draw attention. Though, laughing at the whole idea of any kind of nobility in countries that still so strongly keep hold of achievements done hundreds of years ago is really funny from far away.
sasukeuchiha998 queen Elizabeth holds lots of power but it’s not public
It doesn’t net all that much when one accounts for how much is spent to sustain it. Plus people would still go to the historical sites with or without living royalty. Sorta like France
A sentence like "Well, they wouldn't do this if they knew the little marquess was on board", even though it was said by a child, unintentionally illustrates so well why it's such a good thing their era is over.
Hear, hear.
It strikes me that all the natural born nobility seem very down to earth and nice, but the two women who married into nobility, the Duchess of St. Alban's and especially the Welsh farmgirl, seem like total snobs who purposefully married into nobility. I love the South African man, though. He's dedicated to his title, but also very thankful for what he has and still doesn't quite seem to believe it's actually happening.
I noticed that too! LOL The Commoners, who married into the noble families seem to have a certain haughty air about them vs. the actual aristocrats who were born into that life.
Which one was the Welch farm girl? Can you put the time in the video?
I think actually it may not all be purposefully marrying into wealth--if anything you'd think wealthy people keep a sharp eye out for that sort of thing. It's probably often less trickery and more if it happens it's a mutual decision of money vs wanting looks. For those who just marry just because they like their spouse, it may be that the sneers you experience from being not from that society. The alienation, the questions of your motivations when you may just really love your spouse, and the complete social whiplash may create a haughty facade to try and protect yourself. However, you come to be the very thing people assume you are.
DeviliciousNails what's with the Duchess of St Albans? She is totally ok
Did you see how proud the South African's sons were to be African? Most young white men in Africa that were born there feels that way, I certainly do. Too bad we're made out to be racist capitalist pigs :( Please remember, the fact that we were born here and are a part of the continent is also just an accident of birth...
I love how almost all of these people are so humble and down to earth. I would love to meet any of these people.
The 10th Duke puts it candidly: all of this is just because of an accident at birth, I didn't do anything to deserve it.
He was one of my favorite dukes. Not being raised for the job gave him the perspective to truly appreciate the honor.
Uh huh. I don't see them abandoning their stations. Humble words are snake venom from the mouths of the proud.
11th duke of Atholl
can you elaborate on abandoning their stations
Achieving something by not deserving it fills me with great inspiration instead of achieving something by your efforts. It reminds me of God's Grace: humans don't and can't deserve it. It's only through God's discretion that we benefit from it. Achieving something through luck, chance, and accident is something divine, because who else controls lucks, chances, and accidents---but God? If you achieve something that you don't deserve, you have to be more happy about it than those you achieved by effort, because it is providential .
The interviewer is doing a brilliant job!
The South African duke seems like a really good guy
Lupa Lupo he works for a living.
The one at 1:08? I've just started watching and I recognised his accent as a South African myself
I agree, he is so humble!!
Oh really!? Thanks to them humanity is doom to poverty and misery
An African "Duke": 😂😂😂 he white, isn't he? Good one😂😂😂, wow!
That first guy probably had more titles than every lord, king and queen in Game of Thrones put together.
I'm torn. Half of me thinks they're charming, and half of me thinks they're intolerable. Did I just accidentally learn what having royalty in your country is like?
Inbred bastards! how much do they get paid a year by the whole country! even our royalty gets a lot of money even if they have high paying jobs here in denmark!
They are no different than anyone. They were born to their positions just like you were born to your positions. That's how the world works, no point getting upset. If you kill them off, that doesn't mean rich and powerful people are gone... they'll just be replaced by new ones who are even richer, like the new money billionaires who fly in giant private planes, and live in 60m dollar nyc apartments.
Yeah. They are kind of annoying where I came from.
wait? they still get money? do they do something for their country? if not, they are much worse than our country's congress and other corrupt politicians!!
When it come´s to Dukes and the likes. The answer is mostly no. In most Monarchies in Europe today the actual royal families. ¨Do¨ at least somewhat. In the Netherlands it ,should at least, is mostly symbolic more or less a figurehead. However behind the screens they still have some real influence. And many nonsens privilages. Mostly financial ones. Over here they do not pay taxes. That is one easy way to retain an fast amount of Whealth. Also our government tries to hide the real costs of the whole show. Among other way´s by putting it on the books of departments that usually do not get associated with them and writing it up under or as postst that sound sound nowhere near related. Basicly it is a scam.
This is just an amazing picture of the life of royalty and noble men and women. So fascinating how they must adapt their contemporary made personality with the weight of tradition and family rituals. Thanks for this direct access to a piece of the European history.
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was making the world believe he didn’t exist
Each and every one of them could voice-over an audio book.
These folks are delightfully down-to-earth. No glam, no 10-inch nails, no hair extensions. Just natural grace. Lovely.
Stability is beautiful vs instability depends on evil to rise by force
Hello MTV and welcome to my crib
5:05 "Well I mean in a house like this you wouldn't want a lot of midgets walking about would you?" I'm in love. She should be introduced to the midget spinner
pls i thought u meant Levi Ackerman as the midget spinner😭😭
That one dude fell with a kilt on...I think I saw some crack. Anyway, fascinating documentary.
Perv
904 CZV 😂😂😂😂
I'm sure you did see that cause I know I did. I also noticed that he kept his legs closed when he fell so that other things didn't show.
THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING!!! Lol!!
904 CZV You did indeed see that. Very hard to avoid really
The Duke of Atholl and his family looks down to earth.
Is being "down to earth" a GOOD thing? If so, then WHY?
Bunny Biedenharn yes and it’s mean you may have power but you don’t act like it
He sounds awfully South African.
Chris Lategan well he’s lived in South Africa for multiple generations. The Dukedom was inherited by his father from a second cousin who put most things in a trust. He only does ceremonial things for Great Britain
They're so humble and sympathetic
My favorite parts of the video: 18:40 Lady Camilla 46:39 teacup and driving 49:55 And is not a turtle!
I grew up in a 3 bedrooms suburb house and had to work from the age of 15, now I have student debt that I try to pay off. When I look at people who live in huge 100+rooms chateaux, I'm astonished at how different a life they have and how comfortable they must be. I'm envious for sure.
Audrey-Anne Thank you for your honesty
on the downside, the upkeep for these 100+rooms is rather costly
Audrey-Anne To be honest they struggle to pay for their lifestyle. Everything they have are taxed, that's why a lot of country houses are either turned i to hotel, museum, school, or any other place that can generate money. Imagine your great grandfather are very rich and build you a handsome country palaces with expensive antiques, then it get listed as grade 1 building, and you couldn't just update the building as you like, which make things like heating or electricity very not efficient, thus making everything expensive. Also upkeep for these kind of buildings are massively expensive. Then you, not having a steady income, inherit the place, and your parent already spend the money on maintenance, and you're left with nothing but obligations to keep the place. I think it's not that "privileged" because it's a duty, not a choice.
You have to look at it from a historical perspective. Some of their noble ancestors were war heroes, so the fact that they sacrificed their lives for their country is more than enough to deserve a huge estate & title to pass onto your descendants and heirs.
I don't like the idea of having palace with 100 rooms. However i'd love to have lots of land. Bulldoze that palace and make a nice meadow. LOL
Fascinating. I've always wondered about this. I wish they had covered more of them.
Fascinating stuff. One plus of these great estates being kept is that the land is preserved and not sold off to developers. Some old estates have land that hasn't even been farmed for many hundreds of years. So, one up for nature!
The Duke of Marlborough has a 'Marlboro' picture/painting. Lol
21whichiswhich Really cheesy don't you think?
so which came first? the family or the brand?
If only he was smoking a Marlboro...
"Around the 1930s, it was starting to be advertised as a women's cigarette, based on the slogan "Mild As May". The name was taken from a street in London where Philip Morris's British factory was located.[5] However, as early as 1885, a brand called "Marlborough" was already being marketed as a "ladies' favorite" by Philip Morris & Co"
Someone at the Marlborough blenhiem has a sense of humor
I loved Camilla Osborne. She has not had an aimless life as she has such a such a wonderful sense of humor about her family and life in general. She is charming.
Well done! "Living History" at its best. Reality, fantasy, history, humanity, all in one.
4:08 I wonder how it feels that your family's history and heritage are all preserved in one giant house. And now, as a descendant, you're watching everything in the modern day twenty first century.
The most British documentary I've ever witnessed in my life
Thank you for a well documented programme...
this is quite sad, and eye opening. it shows that money and power don't naturally reside in any one family. and that a lot can and does change within a handful of generations.
i do love this kind of documentary about people & their stories + ancestor
Lady Camilla is so adorable. I like her stories
She's so likable
This is so illuminating to read. _Your_ words are coming at a perfect time for _me._ Didn't know I wasn't the only one to feel this way, let alone that it had a name. Ha! We're all fourth-cousin, tenth-dukes, dreaming we're imposters. Can we start a self-help group?!
18:40 Camilla Osbourne
XactlyCeSe1 Exactly my sentiments! Such a sweet woman! I only ask myself what sort of strange man would sell his property to live from the money and drift around.
Many people like to laugh at the royal and aristocrats but this is history and heritage. People come to UK to see this, not the latest public housing or stadium
THEY ARE PART OF HISTORY I SUPPOSE BUT HISTORY DOES NOT NEED THEM ANYMORE SORRY.
Exactly. People go to the Louvre for the same reason but there aren't Louis' and Marie Antoinette's pointless offspring lording it anymore.
People today do not even understand the difference between royalty and nobility do you expect them to understand noble history?
Wolfen 443 You see that key marked 'Caps Lock'? Yeah, it's the one beside the 'A' key. Please make sure it is turned off before commenting.
@@m.w.6526 really?! If i was you i would reconsider that statement. What have migrants to do with the fact that you People do not respect your heritage?! It is more a inside problem than a migrant problem. Nice try to blame the migrant. Lol
this was awesome! thanks for sharing. more?!
I am a landless Don from Leon, Spain. :( I can trace my family history from Spain, to Mexico, and to the Philippines. Thanks for having this documentary made.
Kaboom Coba kababayan!
I'm a daughter of a Baron. But we still use our family crest. Always will.
I can fart at will
Kaboom Coba Yeah... sure... and I'm the Tsar of Russia XD.
Curious, which family in the Philippines?
The colonel in chief is so humble ... he makes my heart happy :)
40:44 seeing cars parked out of a giant ornate castle just looks so damn goofy
Thankyou very much for sharing all that!!
This really was an interesting documentary, well done.
I misread this as The Last Dudes, and prepared myself for a documentary about very lonely Australian surfers.
Elise 😂😂😂
omg the kept the snadwiches in the crowns...
XD "snadwiches"
And probably had a mild Diarrhea
loving this so far!
Mrs. Jane Anderson is delightful she reminds me of lovely library ladies who have always nurtured my mind.
The first ducal estate profiled in the documentary is enormous. It looks as grand as Windsor Castle!
It was used for the famous "Brideshead Revisited" series.
Amazing how their is still so much respect for the Royal family in England, but all the Dukes have been left to waste away.
This is such an interesting and great documentary !
Thank you very much... Enjoyed the video and learned alot...
These Dukes were born into their power yet the British aristocracy produced the greatest empire the world has ever known.
The US empire was clearly greater at its peak.
When they spoke of Blenheim Palace, they left out Gladys Marie Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, the wife after the Vanderbilt. And that it's a non-royal house that holds the title of Palace.
I really do hope that no more ducal titles die out. Lovely documentary by the way.
Thanks so much you and brilliant opninioner
Those Atholls have STRONG genes and don't even know it. I was shocked at how much Sarah Troughton looks like her great-grandmother, and the current duke does look very much like his ancestors in the paintings.
Nice castle. Got lost on the roof and doesn't know there's an ancient mark on own roof lol. Love the castle!
A splendid documentary.
enjoyed this programme
As a South African person of colour, I was rolling my eyes at my kinsman who's a Duke until he he said, "it's an accident of birth" and "I haven't done anything to deserve this." That was endearing and showed a depth of understanding. I loved it. Duke away, comrade!
I don't understand why the Dukedom can't pass through the female line when the Royal line can pass to the Queen.
It's not that they can't pass to women, but rather that males take priority. Elizabeth would have been passed over if she had a brother, or if there was another close male relative in the line of succession. Recently a law was passed that meant that the order of royal inheritance will no longer be determined by gender. However, this does not apply to other titles such as Dukedoms, Earldoms, Baronies and Baronetcies.
Short answer: depends on the dukedom in question. In Scotland, a dukedom can pass to a woman & has. The Scottish Dukedom of Hamilton. Here's additional information about peerage titles' inheritance: www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/online/content/index20.htm & another from Debrett's: www.debretts.com/expertise/essential-guide-to-the-peerage/creation-and-inheritance-of-the-peerage/
Key to lesser titles and their responsibilities is the duty to provide armed service to Monarch, something only a man could provide.
Me neither. But, there's a movement to change it.
Theres a law for sovereigns to be females but the same law does not apply to dukes.
Superb documentary, Her Grace St. Albany was so into her title.
This was beautiful. But also sad. I somehow wish things would be more grand these days.
Great documentary, amazing history and culture of the United Kingdom. I really love the UK and its awesome history.
Yea I am from Belgium, but love the UK.
shv90210 same here
;)
This is where Danearys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the First men, Breaker of Chains and Queen of Mereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea and Mother of Dragons comes from.
m8trxd You should check out the name and titles of the late Cayetana, 18th Duchess of Alba. Daenaerys is nothing to her if we go by the list and strings of titles.
You forgot, Fluffer of Steven.
Her only title is Khaleesi. The rest are just things people call her, until she get's the throne back for her line and then she would also be Queen of the seven kingdoms.
I would not say that to her grace.
EarlRegent dracaris
The Duke of Athol is very down to earth and honest and proudly South African !!! So are his sons !
49:52 best random comic relief ever. Should be inserted into every documentary.
A lot of good mixed with a lot of bad. UK is where it is because of its monarchy. The palaces and history should be protected for the sake of all people. If you don't have your history and culture then you don't have an identity. At the same, today it's required that all decisions are based on meritocracy, instead of nepotism. Only meritocracy, kindness and respect for others can create good life to more people
laliday If you have rely on long dead ancestor for your identity, perhaps your not worthy of it. I'd rather create who I am.
Pro0ohunter well it’s called culture and mostly everybody in the world still hold on to that culture because they like to know that this is where they came from. Obviously they can choose whoever they are individually.
I'm British and it's not my culture. Share the wealth
And another documentary they said hundreds of those great houses are gone now because it was too expensive to maintain them
@@gardensofthegods There's the expense side, and there's also the tax side. The high amount of inheritance taxes makes it difficult to pass on wealth through the generations.
Most of the nobility they showed are pretty down-to-earth and have a good sense of humor. Must have been fun playing hide and go seek in that wonderful house 45:50
It's about time someone made a documentary about the nobility, they've never had it easy.
Lady Violet made my heart skip a beat. 44:58
All i can think about is riding down those stairs on mattresses
Sliding down the banisters
Johnny Knoxville?
Lady Camila you are a joy. You should be the Duchess.
Very enjoyable. Thank you.
22:18 My word. Good heavens, but he is HANDSOME😍 Lady Camilla Osborne is absolutely fabulous and insightful in her characterisation of her late father, John Osborne, 11th Duke of Leeds.
There is a line in Jack London's novel "Sea Wolf" that applies to the royals. You can say that they 'stand on dead men's legs' .
20:07 the bathroom? a bit odd having family pictures on the bathroom walls isn't it?
Anee BT q
I'm actually starting to see kitsch-casual restaurants putting up framed pictures in their bathrooms nowadays! LOL
Those pictures are used for masterbation purposes
I have picture of me and my sister as children in the bathroom... I don't really see the problem ^^
Putting pictures in the bathroom or on its walls is one thing, but putting pictures of yourself and/or your family as if its the living room is what's truly strange.
Wonderful RP!!!!!
@21:30 is the perfect example when a picture is worth a thousand words !
Im glad i dont have a house of 10+ many bathroom, it's like all the money you earn just to mantain that huge space that 99% of a time get scared going to the bathroom at night.
Especially if you have pictures of your dead ancestors looking down on you both in the bathroom and on the way to the bathroom.
LOL:) I've always wanted to tour or, perhaps, even spend a night in a castle. But the upkeep must have been unbelievably difficult. History of European royalty has always been fascinating for me...sorry:) Even the details of life of past royal life is of interest to me. I don't know why....
If I owned a 100+ room historical house like theirs, I'd open up for tourism and museum as well. I'd just lock off a small section of the house for personal space, a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and a living room. That's all I would need or end up using. Then if tourism is good enough you could live off that, even donate back to the country to help keep these historical places alive for centuries to come.
Loved it!
AMAZING. Thank you for that. After Downton Abbey, I guessed how they`ll live in today`s society. That`s how - or without Abbey or live in the small space of the house giving other rooms to the business needs.
Traditions are important and need maintained; just do not let them hold you back.
Very interesting documentary. I kind of felt like it was MTV Cribs: Duke Edition.
Not only Blenheim palace, but the Principality of Monaco were also saved with American money. Monaco was a poor fishing village until Grace Kelly's father poured millions, as a dowry (which was demanded as a precondition by Prince Ranier III), into Monaco, which is the only reason Monaco is very wealthy today.
stunning!!
It breaks my heart that those times are pretty much gone. We do have the queen, and some others but I just wished they had kept a lot more of these around
Um, about the queen. . .
We Love Our Dukes, Earls, Princes', etc. etc. !!!
What a good program!
This video was awesome. Man it would've so cool to be a Duke!
43:57 "Mom, when Charles dies, do I become the duke?" the little boy should play some Crusader Kings 2, he's got it in him!
ᚲᚨᚢᛚᛞᚱᛟᚾ ᛃᛟᛏᛁ but what if the child was a psychopath and figured all I have to do is push my brother over a Ledge
The duke of st Albans was my favorite...he seems so sincere. So much wisdom is to be admired. I wish that others would look to the past to change the future generations
'more important than the title' wow so practical
Fascinating!