Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
I recently caught up with Jen Lilley and Dan Jeannotte to talk about their new Hallmark Channel film, 'A Royal Setting', which premieres Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET and will be available to stream the following day on Hallmark+. It was a particularly fun conversation for me, as Lilley and I have spoken several times over the years, beginning with her work on the organization Christmas Is Not Cancelled. This time around, however, marked my first time meeting Jeannotte, which added a fresh dynamic to the discussion.
At its core, 'A Royal Setting' follows Ruby (Lilley) as she is hired by Prince Luca (Jeannotte) to restore the crown jewels and design his new crown, a task that both honors tradition and challenges it. As their professional relationship deepens, it begins to complicate Luca’s relationship with his mother, the queen, setting the stage for both emotional stakes and romantic tension.
Lilley was open about the preparation that went into her role as Ruby, a world-renowned gemologist whose expertise brings her into royal circles. Despite playing such a highly skilled professional, she admitted that her own experience with gemology was far less impressive. She shared that she once took a gemology class in college and was terrible at it, which made her especially grateful that the production had a real gemologist and jeweler on set to guide the cast through the technical details. That support helped bring authenticity to her performance, even as she embraced the charm of a character whose name, Ruby, felt delightfully on the nose and added an extra layer of sweetness to the film.
Jeannotte, who plays Prince Luca, spoke thoughtfully about why stories like this resonate so strongly right now. He emphasized the importance of love, romance and comfort during what many consider hectic and uncertain times. For him, films like A Royal Setting offer viewers a chance to slow down, enjoy the moment and step into a fantasy where acceptance, connection and even royalty feel within reach. That sense of escapism, paired with heartfelt storytelling, is exactly what audiences have come to expect and appreciate from Hallmark.
'A Royal Setting', premieres Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel and the following day on Hallmark+.
#jenlilley #danjeannotte #hallmarkchannel #hallmarkplus #aroyalsetting #interview #fanboynation
I recently caught up with Jen Lilley and Dan Jeannotte to talk about their new Hallmark Channel film, 'A Royal Setting', which premieres Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET and will be available to stream the following day on Hallmark+. It was a particularly fun conversation for me, as Lilley and I have spoken several times over the years, beginning with her work on the organization Christmas Is Not Cancelled. This time around, however, marked my first time meeting Jeannotte, which added a fresh dynamic to the discussion.
At its core, 'A Royal Setting' follows Ruby (Lilley) as she is hired by Prince Luca (Jeannotte) to restore the crown jewels and design his new crown, a task that both honors tradition and challenges it. As their professional relationship deepens, it begins to complicate Luca’s relationship with his mother, the queen, setting the stage for both emotional stakes and romantic tension.
Lilley was open about the preparation that went into her role as Ruby, a world-renowned gemologist whose expertise brings her into royal circles. Despite playing such a highly skilled professional, she admitted that her own experience with gemology was far less impressive. She shared that she once took a gemology class in college and was terrible at it, which made her especially grateful that the production had a real gemologist and jeweler on set to guide the cast through the technical details. That support helped bring authenticity to her performance, even as she embraced the charm of a character whose name, Ruby, felt delightfully on the nose and added an extra layer of sweetness to the film.
Jeannotte, who plays Prince Luca, spoke thoughtfully about why stories like this resonate so strongly right now. He emphasized the importance of love, romance and comfort during what many consider hectic and uncertain times. For him, films like A Royal Setting offer viewers a chance to slow down, enjoy the moment and step into a fantasy where acceptance, connection and even royalty feel within reach. That sense of escapism, paired with heartfelt storytelling, is exactly what audiences have come to expect and appreciate from Hallmark.
'A Royal Setting', premieres Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel and the following day on Hallmark+.
#jenlilley #danjeannotte #hallmarkchannel #hallmarkplus #aroyalsetting #interview #fanboynation
