BBC Learning English

News about Britain

September 2008
Duchess - or Princess?
The British actress Keira Knightley has rejected claims that her latest film The Duchess, a
historical drama set in the 18th Century, parallels the life of Princess Diana. The film tells the
true life story of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, who was the great-great-great-great aunt of
Diana, Princess of Wales.

In the film Knightley plays an aristocratic woman who is trapped in a marriage to a man who is
in love with his mistress. It is this storyline that mimics the experiences of Princess Diana, who
married Prince Charles only to discover that he was continuing a long-standing clandestine
relationship with another woman. Even the films tag line, There were three people in her
marriage, suggests a link to Dianas story, as it bears a remarkable similarity to the words the
princess used to describe her own situation in a highly candid 1995 television interview.

Speaking to the BBC, Keira Knightley was quick to play down the similarities in the stories,
saying her character was an interesting enough person to warrant a film completely about her,
without comparisons.

In fact the 23-year-old actress claims not to remember the story of Prince Charles and Princess
Dianas doomed marriage. I was 11 when Diana died, so I dont really know what the actual
story is, so I dont feel I can comment on the parallels, Knightley scolded reporters at a recent
press conference.

Whether the Diana connection exists or not, The Duchess provides a fascinating insight into
personal relationships in a society where divorce was taboo.

The film is also a visual feast as the architecture and fashions of 18th Century England are
painstakingly recreated down to the smallest detail.

News about Britain

British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

Page 1 of 6
bbclearningenglish.com

Glossary
rejected claims said that it wasn't true

duchess in Britain, a noblewoman of the

(here, 'a claim' means 'something you say is

highest hereditary rank, or a wife/widow of a

true without enough factual proof')

duke

parallels is similar to, reminds of

aristocratic belonging to the class of people

with a high social rank

mistress a woman who is having an

clandestine secret (especially when talking

intimate relationship with a married man

about something that is not allowed officially

or morally)

tag line a phrase repeatedly used in

highly candid very honest and direct (often

connection with a person, organization, or

in a shocking way)

product, especially in publicity

to play down to make something seem less

to warrant a film to deserve a film to be

important, or credible than people think

made

doomed bound to fail, destined to suffer a

scolded told off (because she did not like

dreadful fate

their questions and/or thought they were

inappropriate)

a fascinating insight a very interesting,

divorce was taboo it was socially

engaging and profound look

unacceptable for a husband and wife to break

up and start living separately

a visual feast full of unusual, striking

painstakingly with a lot of effort

images

Read and listen to the story online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/newsenglish/britain/080916_duchess.shtml

News about Britain

British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

Page 2 of 6
bbclearningenglish.com

1. Reading Quiz
Are these sentences true or false? Or is the answer not given in the text? Circle the correct
answer.
1. Keira Knightley and Princess Diana share a distant ancestor.
True / False / Not given
2. The film is set in the 1700s.
True / False / Not given
3. In the film Keira Knightley plays the mistress of an aristocrat.
True / False / Not given
4. Keira Knightley was 23 when Princess Diana died.
True / False / Not given
5. In the 18th Century divorce was seen as an acceptable action by most people.
True / False / Not given

2. Jumbled Sentences
Rearrange the words in the sentences below to make correct sentences.
1. her latest plays an 18th Keira Knightley Century in film duchess
____________________________________________________________.
2. of distant Devonshire was a of The Duchess Princess Diana ancestor
___________________________________________________________.
3. unfaithful The is a film a Duchess whose husband woman is about
___________________________________________________________.
4. Princess say film marriage parallels the the of Diana Some
___________________________________________________________.
5. Charles not Kiera said did and Knightley Dianas marriage she remember
___________________________________________________________.
6. Century was of in the Divorce 18th disapproved
___________________________________________________________.

News about Britain

British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

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3. Idioms
Look at the idioms below. Each one is connected to royalty or aristocracy.
Try to match each idiom to its definition.

1. fit for a king

a. the most important woman

2. as drunk as a lord

b. a large sum of money

3. a kings ransom

c. very intoxicated with alcohol

4. queen bee

d. of a very high standard

Now complete the sentences below by using one of the idioms above.

1. I have a terrible hangover this morning I was ______________ last night.

2. That lady is the boss of the whole department - shes the __________.
3. That footballer cost ___________ but he is one of the best in the world.
4. The food in that restaurant is ____________; the chef is world famous.

News about Britain

British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

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4. Wordsearch
Try to find the words associated with royalty and aristocracy in the puzzle below.
There are ten words to find. Words can be written horizontally (g), vertically (i) or
diagonally (m)

king
lady

queen
duke
count
countess

News about Britain

duchess
knight

lord
dame

British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

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Answers
1. Reading Quiz

2. Jumbled Sentences

Are these sentences true or false? Or is the answer not given

in the text? Circle the correct answer.

Rearrange the words in the sentences below to make correct

sentences.

1. Keira Knightley and Princess Diana share a distant

ancestor.
Not given

1. Keira Knightley plays an 18th Century duchess in

her latest film.

2. The film is set in the 1700s.

2. The Duchess of Devonshire was a distant ancestor

of Princess Diana.

True

3. In the film Keira Knightley plays the mistress of an

aristocrat.
False
4. Keira Knightley was 23 when Princess Diana died.
False
5. In the 18th Century divorce was seen as an
acceptable action by most people.
False

3. The Duchess is a film about a woman whose

husband is unfaithful.
4. Some say the film parallels the marriage of Princess
Diana.
5. Kiera Knightley said she did not remember Charles
and Dianas marriage.
6. Divorce was disapproved of in the 18th Century.

4. Wordsearch

3. Idioms
Look at the idioms below. Each one is connected to royalty
or aristocracy. Try to match each idiom to its definition.

d
c

1. d
2. c
3. b
4. a

1. I have a terrible hangover this morning I was

drunk as a lord last night.
2. That lady is the boss of the whole department
shes the queen bee.

Now complete the sentences below by using one of the

idioms above.

n
t

3. That footballer cost a kings ransom but he is one

of the best in the world.

4. The food in that restaurant is fit for a king; the

chef is world famous.

News about Britain

British Broadcasting Corporation 2008

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