Love is in the heir!
When Jen Lilley and Dan Jeannotte step into their royal roles for A Royal Setting, the result is exactly the kind of swoon-worthy escapism fans expect from the Hallmark Channel — but with a few unexpected twists, plenty of laughs, and a reunion years in the making.
Ahead of the film’s premiere tomorrow, the co-stars caught up with Celeb Secrets to dish on their on-screen chemistry, returning to the beloved network, and the behind-the-scenes chaos caused by one very dramatic prop crown.
And yes — the swoon level? According to Jeannotte, it’s high.
“Swoon level is… you gotta be sitting down,” he teased with a grin.
While A Royal Setting marks the first time Lilley and Jeannotte have shared the screen in years, their easy chemistry made it feel like no time had passed.
“We’re super excited,” Lilley told Celeb Secrets. “This is Dan and I’s first time on screen together in seven years. It was a really fun reunion… we didn’t have to start at that awkward surface level. We already had a depth from working together before.”
That familiarity helped the pair jump straight into the romantic rhythm of the story, which follows Ruby — a brilliant gemologist — who’s tasked with restoring a kingdom’s crown jewels and designing a new crown for Prince Luca. Naturally, sparks begin to fly.
Jeannotte says their prior friendship made the whole experience even more playful.
“We kind of hit the ground running with this one,” he explained. “I was just watching a bit of the movie earlier, and I could see we were having fun. There are scenes where I’m like, ‘I think Jen’s about to start laughing — she’s not supposed to, but she’s about to.’”
The film features plenty of regal glamour and dazzling gemstones, however, the stars say the real heart of the story is… you guessed it… romance.
When we asked whether their characters are best represented by royalty, romance, or crown jewels, the answer came surprisingly quickly.
“I would say romance,” Lilley said. “Ruby really loves gems — that’s her whole obsession — but at the heart of it, it’s about connection.”
Jeannotte agreed, explaining that while their characters initially appear to be focused on their responsibilities, their priorities quickly shift.
“On the surface you think, ‘Oh, he’s royalty,’ and ‘She’s focused on precious jewels,’” he said. “But underneath it, they pretty quickly realize they’re actually looking for romance — something that sparks them.”
While royal Hallmark romances often lean heavily into fairy-tale fantasy, A Royal Setting brings something a little more playful to the table — and according to its stars, that’s exactly what makes the story sparkle.
“There’s a lot of comedy in it,” Lilley told Celeb Secrets, hinting that Ruby’s arrival at the palace shakes things up in more ways than one.
Jeannotte agrees, noting that part of the charm comes from watching Ruby navigate a world that’s far more buttoned-up than she’s used to.
“Jen is so funny in it as this kind of fish-out-of-water character,” he shared. “And beyond our love story, there are some really nice relationships in the movie too. There’s a mother-daughter dynamic and even another couple that our characters are kind of trying to matchmake.”
The result is a romance that doesn’t just rely on royal glamour — it leans into humor, heart, and a few delightfully unexpected moments along the way.
For Lilley, stepping into Ruby’s shoes also meant stepping back into familiar territory. The actress — who built a loyal fan base through numerous Hallmark projects — admitted she felt a few nerves returning to the network after several years away. But the moment filming began, those jitters quickly melted away.
“It felt like home,” she said warmly. “Honestly, it felt like putting on your favorite pair of boots that you worked so hard to break in. It just felt comfortable and light and right.”
That sense of ease carried throughout production — which, in true Hallmark fashion, came with its own memorable moments. Lilley even celebrated her birthday while filming the movie, making the experience feel even more special.
“Top to bottom, it was just such a wonderful experience,” she added.
Of course, filming a movie about royal jewels wouldn’t be complete without the crown itself — though according to the cast, this particular prop had a bit of diva energy.
“Our poor crown had to go through a lot,” Lilley joked, recalling how the production team had to rearrange their schedule while waiting for the key piece to arrive on set.
Jeannotte couldn’t resist poking fun at their unexpected co-star.
“You hear stories sometimes about actors who are divas on set and never show up on time,” he laughed. “We had an actor like that — it was the crown.”
The delay meant the cast had to get creative, improvising and filming scenes around the missing prop until it finally arrived. And yes, that means some moments in the film required a little imagination.
“When you’re watching the movie and we’re talking about the crown and saying how amazing it looks,” Jeannotte revealed, “it actually wasn’t there yet.”
Part of the reason fans keep coming back to Hallmark romances is simple: the promise of a happily-ever-after. But Lilley hints that A Royal Setting manages to deliver that comforting familiarity while still surprising viewers along the way.
“Obviously they get together,” she said with a smile. “That’s why we love these movies. When there’s so much turmoil going on in the world, it’s wonderful to have escapism that we can count on.”
Still, the film saves one particularly romantic moment for the end — and even Lilley admits it caught her off guard when she first read the script.
“There’s a little twist at the end that was very, very romantic,” she teased.
Even outside the palace walls, Lilley and Jeannotte think their characters would keep things surprisingly low-key. When we asked what a modern-day date night might look like for Ruby and Prince Luca, the stars didn’t picture extravagant royal outings or glamorous galas.
Instead?
“I feel like they’d do something casual,” Lilley said thoughtfully. “Maybe a picnic… and playing board games.”
Jeannotte immediately signed on to the idea.
“They wouldn’t need anything fancy,” he said. “They’d just want to be together — walking around, taking in the world and taking in each other.”
Which, honestly, might be the most romantic answer of all.
For more on A Royal Setting, make sure to watch our interview with Jen Lilley and Dan Jeannotte below. And don’t forget to catch the film’s big premiere TOMORROW, March 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel, streaming next day on Hallmark+.
