Look, no one is saying that The Diplomat is based in reality, exactly. But there is a charming female ambassador to the UK at the moment. She does live in a stately residence—the glorious Winfield House—on a not-tiny plot (12 and a half acres!) in London’s Regent’s Park. And surely there are wardrobe concerns akin to those that distract and trouble the fictional ambassador Kate Wyler, played by Keri Russell) in the Netflix show, the second season of which is streaming now. The elaborate preparations involved in The Diplomat’s Fourth of July fête might seem excessive, but Ambassador and Mrs. John Hay Whitney once ordered 5,000 artificial tulips to pad out the bare flower beds before their own celebration of their country’s independence in the late 1950s.
So just how much of the show is made up whole cloth versus based on some version of the truth? To get at the answer, we went straight to the source, Ambassador Jane Hartley, who has been the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since May of 2022. (Before that, she was ambassador to the French republic and the Principality of Monaco.) Despite what must be an extremely demanding schedule, she was courteous and considerate enough to offer some of her time and insight. If there is one thing that the show gets right, it’s that every request deserves a polite response.
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Vogue: The ambassador in the series is always rapidly changing clothes in strange places—public bathrooms, offices, etc. Do you find that a quick wardrobe change is often required? What does go into planning your wardrobe?
Ambassador Jane Hartley: I like to keep busy, which means my schedule is pretty packed. I have been known to duck into a bathroom to make a quick change on the way from a meeting to a more formal evening event. That being said, I’ve never singled out a security agent, asked them how tall they were, and taken the suit off their back. I have to give Ambassador Wyler points for creativity.
In one episode this season, Kate Wyler throws a lavish party involving many imported apple pies. What is the most outlandish or creative thing you have ever imported for a party? Are there any celebrations that you are particularly proud of?
The Independence Day party is an important event to showcase US soft power. As a gesture of gratitude, the embassy hosts thousands of our closest British colleagues and partners to celebrate our shared values. For this particular party, we once had someone lend us the use of an authentic New York cab for the best selfies. But I think the crowd’s favorite import—judging from the lines—may have been the Shake Shack burgers and Five Guys hot dogs!
How accurate is the depiction of the ambassador’s residence? Is there something that you think the show or set design does better than the actual residence? Is there something that you know the residence does much better?
Winfield House, the residence of the US ambassador in London, manages to be both cozy and regal at the same time. I spend a lot of time in the large garden, a private section of Regent’s Park, with my dog Bear. It’s my haven after long days in technical briefings or negotiations. A few people have admitted to me they were disappointed that Winfield’s entry drive is not as grand as Wrotham Park, the mansion where they film The Diplomat. No long walk up to the manor. No horse-drawn carriages. No grand staircase.
Still, Winfield House is an important space for building relationships between Americans and Britons. Recent months have seen us host high-profile American executives to encourage two-way investment between our countries, British members of parliament to welcome the new cohort following a general election in the UK, and a group of talented international artists for the London Frieze art fair. That’s cultural diplomacy in action: bringing people together and finding areas for cooperation.
One crucial thing the show gets right about Winfield House is the dedication of the staff. They make sure every guest, from the president of the United States to a young musician, is treated with respect and care.
There is a plotline this season that involves concealing someone who may or may not have committed a crime with international diplomatic ramifications. Safe to assume that no ambassador has ever been involved in such an endeavor?
The Diplomat is certainly entertaining, but a few plotlines are well beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. I can tell you my embassy doesn’t have secret passageways to smuggle people through—at least that I know of!
