Marilyn Monroe only ever visited England once in her lifetime and stayed at Parkside House in Englefield Green in Surrey for the period she was here.
Parkside House in Englefield Green was owned by Charles Garrett Ponsonby Moore, 11th Earl of Drogheda and his wife, concert pianist Joan Moore. It was rented to the film studios for the duration of Marilyn's stay.
The Drogheda's staff were kept on including Dolly Stiles the housekeeper, Mabel Whittington, a maid, and Florrie Mitchell who was in charge of the market garden. At that time, Parkside supplied Covent Garden Market with fresh produce from the estate farm.
Sir Laurence Olivier co-starred in, and directed The Prince and the Showgirl which was filmed at Pinewood Studios. It was the only film Marilyn Monroe made in the UK. Apparently he found her hard to work with but still praised her at the end of filming.
Marilyn Monroe leans against her fiance, playwright Arthur Miller, as he kisses her at her New York apartment on 22 June, 1956, days before flying to Heathrow.
Shortly after finishing Josh Logan's 1956 film Bus Stop, Marilyn Monroe married Arthur Miller. Not long after the wedding, they flew to the UK, so she could start filming with Olivier.
On 14 July 1956 Marilyn and Arthur arrived on a flight from America, landing at what was then known as London Airport, now Heathrow.
They were greeted at the airport by Sir Laurence Olivier and his actress wife Vivien Leigh. Monroe and Olivier were due to start filming what was then titled "The Sleeping Prince" days later.
Marilyn's arrival was met with great excitement, not least from the national press. This was taken just after their arrival at Parkside, with both still wearing the outfits they travelled in.
The day after their arrival the newly weds were photographed relaxing in the grounds of Parkside House, dressed ready for the press conference Marilyn was to hold that evening in London.
Again in the grounds of Parkside House with new husband and prize-winning playwright Arthur Miller. According to her assistant Colin Clark, the relationship was already under strain but other sources dispute that.
On 15 July 1956 Marilyn and Olivier held a press conference at the Savoy Hotel, in the Strand in London to publicise the new film. In 2007, the chair she sat on was auctioned off as part of the Savoy refurbishment sale.
On 27 July 1956, Marilyn and Arthur attended an evening house party at "Little Court" in Windlesham, on the invitation of the owner, actor Terence Rattigan. A policeman on the gate almost turned them away after not recognising the star!
Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with Marilyn, at the Royal Film premiere of war film The Battle of River Plate, in Leicester Square, London, 29 October, 1956. Like HRH, Monroe was a guest in the audience, and did not appear in the film.
Marilyn and Arthur Miller, at the Comedy Theatre in London, on 11 October,1956, the first night of Miller's new play, A View from the Bridge. They returned to the USA on 20 November, 1956.
Marilyn Monroe returned to the USA on a Pan America flight from London Airport on 20 November 1956. She was never to come back to England and tragically died in six years later in Brentwood, California.
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