Those who watch the Downton Abbey series 4 Christmas Special later this month will be warmed by the fact that the story is set in the summer season.

The episode – which airs from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. on ITV on December 25 – will see the characters head off to London for the “coming out” of Rose at Buckingham Palace. While in town they’ll be staying at Grantham House, their London home away from home.

The synopsis reads: “It’s the summer season and as part of Rose’s ‘coming out’ she is to be presented at Buckingham Palace. The family and servants are at Grantham House, their London residence, preparing for the busy social program. Not one to miss such a grand occasion, Cora’s mother, Martha Levinson makes the journey from New York with her playboy son Harold, fresh from his recent brush with the law. Both outspoken and larger-than-life, they make quite an impression amongst certain members of London’s high society, in particular with Lord Aysgarth, played by James Fox.”

There will also be some drama and happy times back at the Abbey itself, it seems. “Isobel finds herself with an admirer while Edith is wrestling with a moral dilemma. Downstairs, Daisy gets an unexpected invitation and Carson treats the staff to a special day out. When the Crawleys are implicated in a scandal that threatens to engulf the monarchy, Robert will go to great lengths to protect the royal family, and his own.”

ITV noted the new filming locations for the Christmas Special’s storyline. “The episode was filmed in spectacular locations in London and the south of England including Lancaster House, which was used to depict the interiors of Buckingham Palace when Cora presents Lady Rose to The King and Queen, Goldsmith’s College, as well as the beach at West Wittering in Sussex and Basildon Park in Berkshire, which was used for the interiors of the Crawley’s as yet previously unseen London residence.”

Though not noted in the synopsis, the episode will welcome a new character: Cora’s brother played by actor Paul Giamatti. He can be seen in these brand new stills from the episode:

This is the final episode of Downton Abbey series 4. Following the official series end last month, ITV commissioned a fifth series which should debut in the fall.

Meanwhile, PBS will premiere the show in the United States on January 5.