• Michelle Dockery pays tribute to 'Downton Abbey' family and thanks fans for support as show ends filming

Michelle Dockery pays tribute to 'Downton Abbey' family and thanks fans for support as show ends filming (Photo : Instagram/Michelle Dockery)

The stars of the ITV series "Downton Abbey" have begun saying good-bye and leading the way in the farewell laments is Michelle Dockery, 33, who posted an emotional tribute in pictures on her Instagram account taken during the last days of filming on set.

The emotional actress thanked cast, crew and viewers for supporting her and the show  for six years. Sharing a photo on Instagram of twin child actors and herself in her last scene as Lady Mary Crawley, the actress gave fans a glimpse of the goings on behind the scenes on the last day on set.

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The actress is seen wearing modern day clothes and sharing a giggle with four-year-olds, Zac and Oliver Barker, who play her on-screen son George.

Together with the picture she wrote, "The last day of what has been the most glorious 6 years of my life" adding that she is grateful for being part of the Downton "family."

In addition, she shared a playful picture of herself in a 1920s costume posing with one of the directors David Evans of the period drama show.

Adding a little footnote to the picture, Dockery said Evans was one of the show's talented directors and remarked that she has learnt much from working with him.

Following Dockery's lead co-star Elizabeth McGovern who plays the show's matriarch and the Countess Of Grantham, also tweeted some emotional photos on her Twitter account.

The final season of "Downton Abbey" is set to hit TV screens in Britain in September, with the final episode to be broadcast on Christmas Day, according to the Daily Mail.

Meanwhile, discussing storylines for the last season actor Hugh Bonneville who plays Lord Grantham, told the Mirror his character comes to  realization that costs involved in maintaining a crumbling estate means that the Crawley family can no longer live in the way in which they were once accustomed and change is eminent.

The actor told the British publication the final season will portray a very "end of an era" flavor with alot of downsizing as the show comes to a close after a successful run.