Elizabeth McGovern as Lady Cora Crawley in MILLION DOLLAR AMERICAN PRINCESSES. Lady Corawas not alone. The fictional heroine of "Downton Abbey" was representative of hundreds of real American heiresses who wed British nobility at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, merging cash with class. Hosted by "Downton Abbey" star Elizabeth McGovern, MILLION DOLLAR AMERICAN PRINCESSES, premiering on January 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel, chronicles the fascinating stories behind some of these celebrated unions. From Winston Churchill's parents to Princess Diana's great grandmother, the series examines arranged marriages that saved a fading British aristocracy and, in return, gave some American women a title and place in high society. - Photo: Courtesy of Smithsonian Channel Copyright: 2014 - SmithsonianChannel_MillionDollarAmericanPrincess_ElM112
Elizabeth McGovern as Lady Cora Crawley in MILLION DOLLAR AMERICAN PRINCESSES. Lady Corawas not alone. The fictional heroine of "Downton Abbey" was representative of hundreds of real American heiresses who wed British nobility at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, merging cash with class. Hosted by "Downton Abbey" star Elizabeth McGovern, MILLION DOLLAR AMERICAN PRINCESSES, premiering on January 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel, chronicles the fascinating stories behind some of these celebrated unions. From Winston Churchill's parents to Princess Diana's great grandmother, the series examines arranged marriages that saved a fading British aristocracy and, in return, gave some American women a title and place in high society. - Photo: Courtesy of Smithsonian Channel Copyright: 2014 - SmithsonianChannel_MillionDollarAmericanPrincess_ElM110
