2011 Christmas Special
Series 3, Episode 0
Air date	25th December 2011
Written by	Julian Fellowes
Directed by	Brian Percival
Episode guide
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Set in December 1919 and January 1920. The household is bustling with all the Christmas preparations. Mr. Bates is convicted of the murder of his ex-wife Vera despite testimony from the Earl of Grantham. Towards the end of the episode his death sentence is commuted to life imprisonment. Also the relationship between Matthew Crawley and Lady Mary Crawley takes another twist. She jilts her fiancé Sir Richard Carlisle despite his threatening to reveal her dark secret regarding Kemal Pamuk. She also discovers that the fact she is no longer a virgin does not worry Matthew Crawley and in the final scene he proposes to her but only after she insists he get down on one knee. She accepts.