The Countess of Carnarvon

Fiona Aitken, better known as the 8th Countess of Carnarvon, has had a colourful career, from auditing at an accountancy firm, to running her own fashion label and writing historical books based on her Carnarvon lineage.

Fiona now runs affairs at Highclere Castle in Berkshire – the magnificent home of the Carnarvon family since 1679 which is the setting for the popular television series Downton Abbey.

The Countess has written two books on the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who ventured to the ancient Egyptian Valley of the Kings and discovered the Tutankhamun’s tomb with Howard Carter in 1922. The first takes a look at the pair’s work together and search for the tomb, while the second delves into the details of the discovery itself. Her work and fascination led to the creation of the Egyptian Exhibition at Highclere.

Her latest book, however, follows the success of Downton Abbey and tells the remarkable story of Lady Almina and The Real Downton Abbey. Fascinated with the history of Highclere and the people who have lived there over the centuries, the Countess was particularly drawn to Almina, the illegitimate daughter of banking tycoon Alfred de Rothschild who married the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, at 19, with an enormous dowry. Similar to the TV show, the book follows Almina’s journey through the turbulent years of the First World War.

VIDEO: The Countess of Carnarvon talks to Mariella about Lady Almina and her new novel