Hidden Heritage

Hidden Heritage Formerly known as Duchess the Podcast, Hidden Heritage is a podcast which uncovers the secrets of the past and explores the UK’s greatest destinations

25/04/2026

The Marble Hall ✨

Undoubtedly one of the most impressive features of Elveden, the Marble Hall is a four-storey room crafted entirely from Carrara marble, designed in a rich blend of Eastern styles. Built as a ballroom for the Guinness family, it is said that over 700 artisans were employed to bring it to life.

We, for one, are rather jealous of those house guests who once had the privilege of swaying beneath its great copper dome, no doubt feeling as though they had been transported to the great courts of India.

Our conversation with Lord Iveagh is available to stream on Hidden Heritage. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and share your thoughts in the review section 🎧

22/04/2026

Remembering Elveden’s royal resident 👑

The Guinness family have owned Elveden Hall for over 130 years, acquiring it following the death of its previous custodian, Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, who made this grand estate his home in the second half of the 19th century.

In this episode, Edward Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh, shares further insight into Duleep Singh’s life and his time at Elveden, including his richly populated menagerie.🐆

Lord Iveagh: Legacy, Land and the Weight of History at Elveden will be released tomorrow on Hidden Heritage. Make sure to tune in, and if you do not already follow us, do so to be notified as soon as the episode goes live.

20/04/2026

Can you guess the guest⁉️

In this week’s Hidden Heritage episode, Violet sits down with the man at the helm of one of Britain’s most impressive and delightfully eccentric stately homes: Eleven Hall.

There are countless reasons to visit historic houses, from the rich stories they tell to the remarkable collections they hold. But one of the most important, Violet and our mystery guest agree, is the sense of calm they offer, the almost therapeutic effect of being immersed in their history and surrounding nature.

To discover who we had the pleasure of speaking with this week, tune in to Hidden Heritage this Wednesday. If you’re not already following us, be sure to do so on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to stay up to date with all our latest episodes.🎙️

17/04/2026

Accomplishing One’s Duty ⚔️

In speaking to aristocrats across Britain for Heirs and Graces, Eleanor Doughty found a recurring theme in their testimonies: reluctance. For many, inheritance does not arrive at a convenient moment, but in the midst of an already established life, with a career, a family, and often far removed from the estate itself.

Taking on an historic house is rarely straightforward. It can mean stepping away from one life to assume another, shaped by responsibility, expectation and the weight of history. What emerges is not entitlement, but a strong sense of duty, to family, to legacy and to the future of the estate.

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Eleanor. If you haven’t done so yet, make sure to leave the episode a review and purchase your very own copy of Heirs and Graces!📚

15/04/2026

The man behind the peer✨

The lives that inspire stories like Downton Abbey are often imagined at a distance, but in reality, they are shaped by the same emotions, pressures and memories as any other. In this extract, journalist and author Eleanor Doughty reflects on that reality. For Lord Crathorne, it began early. Sent away to school as a young child, as was common for boys of his background, the separation proved deeply traumatic, not only for him, but for his mother, a moment that has stayed with him ever since.

In writing Heirs and Graces, Eleanor conducted hundreds of interviews with aristocrats across Britain, gaining rare and often intimate insight into lives usually glimpsed only from the outside, and, in doing so, revealing the human stories behind the titles.

The episode is now live on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Enjoying our conversation with Eleanor and want to learn more?
Her book Heirs and Graces can be purchased at any major book retailer!📚

Follow Hidden Heritage and leave a review to support the series.

14/04/2026

Inside Britain’s Great Houses with Eleanor Doughty: Heirs, Duty and the Modern Aristocracy👑

Journalist and author Eleanor Doughty has spent over a decade gaining rare access to Britain’s great estates. Through her Sunday Telegraph column and her book Heirs and Graces, she explores inheritance not simply as privilege, but as duty, burden and identity.

In this episode, Violet and Eleanor discuss how Britain’s aristocracy lives today, and what life inside these great houses really looks like beyond the Downton fantasy. The conversation turns to trust, discretion and access, as well as the realities of inheritance in the 21st century and whether the traditional estate model can endure.

An intelligent, clear-eyed exploration of what it truly means to inherit a historic house today.

Our conversation with Eleanor will be released tomorrow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow Hidden Heritage so you don’t miss it when it goes live!

In the meantime, if you haven’t yet listened to last week’s episode with Lady Anne Glenconner, make sure to catch up so you’re up to date and let us know what you thought of it in the review section.

10/04/2026

Princess Margaret, the friend✨

One of the great tragedies of Lady Glenconner’s life was the death of her son Henry from AIDS. In the midst of that grief, she recalls Princess Margaret’s unflinching loyalty and quiet solidarity.

At a time when fear and stigma surrounded the illness, Margaret did not pull away. She embraced Henry when others would not, and offered steady companionship to Lady Anne in her darkest moments.

Throughout our conversation, she paints a picture of the Princess as a considerate and kind friend, offering a rare and intimate glimpse of the woman behind the regalia.

You can listen to the episode with Lady Glenconner on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you enjoy it, please leave a review and follow Hidden Heritage to hear more remarkable stories.

09/04/2026

A royal flatmate 🏡

Lady Anne recalls the year HRH Princess Margaret opened the doors to her home for what was meant to be a few nights, but turned into an entire year.
What does living with the daughter of a king-emperor entail? Regular trips to the cinema, all accompanied by a steady haze of cigarette smoke.

If you haven’t yet listened to ‘Lady Anne Glenconner: Holkham, Mustique and Life with Princess Margaret,’ you can find it now on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Let us know what you think in the comments and follow along to stay up to date with our latest episodes!

08/04/2026

Becoming a Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II 👑

This week’s guest is none other than celebrated author Lady Anne Glenconner (née Coke) of Holkham Hall.

Still reeling from heartbreak over Lord Althorp, the ever relatable Lady Anne attempted to escape it all with a spontaneous trip to America, only to receive a life changing telegram. She had been invited to take on one of the most coveted roles for a young woman of her age and background: Maid of Honour at Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation.

Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, pursued by photographers and elevated to near celebrity status, this extraordinary moment cemented Lady Glenconner’s place within the royal circle and proved to be a defining chapter in her life.

A few years later, she would go on to serve as Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret for over three decades, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into life behind the Crown.

Our conversation is now available to stream! Tune in to hear more of Lady Glenconner’s remarkable story, from her childhood at one of England’s grandest Palladian houses to her later life on the island of Mustique, and every remarkable moment in between.

Let us know your thoughts in the reviews and make sure to follow Hidden Heritage so you never miss an episode! 🎙️

07/04/2026

Becoming a Maid of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II 👑

This week’s guest is none other than celebrated author Lady Anne Glenconner (née Coke) of Holkham Hall.

Still reeling from heartbreak over Lord Althorp, the ever relatable Lady Anne attempted to escape it all with a spontaneous trip to America, only to receive a life changing telegram. She had been invited to take on one of the most coveted roles for a young woman of her age and background: Maid of Honour at Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation.

Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, pursued by photographers and elevated to near celebrity status, this extraordinary moment cemented Lady Glenconner’s place within the royal circle and proved to be a defining chapter in her life.

A few years later, she would go on to serve as Lady in Waiting to Princess Margaret for over three decades, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into life behind the Crown.

Tune in to Hidden Heritage tomorrow to hear more of Lady Glenconner’s remarkable story, from her childhood at one of England’s grandest Palladian houses to her later life on the island of Mustique, and every remarkable moment in between.

In the meantime, catch up on last week’s episode with Patrick Galbraith, and don’t forget to follow us to stay up to date.

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