THIS is the little-known Royal house loved by King Charles – and his £45million plan to save it.
Sitting on a sprawling piece of Scottish land sits an 18th century home filled with furniture, décor and art from the same era.
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The house is surrounded by extensive themed gardens with hidden features and walking trails, and is open to the public all-year round.
There are places to enjoy food and drink, a health and wellbeing centre, and a farm full of animals.
The whopping 2,000-acre plot of land, which boasts an adventure playground, also plays host to weddings and events, and even education and training, too.
Plus, visitors can pay £140-a-night to stay in one of the estate B&B’s 22 bedrooms, or pop £3 into an honesty box to wander the expansive gardens.
The property is Dumfries House and was snapped up by King Charles nearly two decades ago.
And much of that time has been spent restoring the property, and saving it from disrepair.
While His Majesty once admitted that taking on the massive project was an “appalling risk”, he – and the community – are reaping the rewards now.
The public will now get an insight into the King’s £45m spending throughout the project when Royal Grand Design airs next week.
The King splashed out £45m on the Ayrshire home, with a £20m loan from his charity The Prince’s Foundation, in 2007.
Dumfries House was inherited by the second Marquess of Bute in 1814, and remained in the family until the seventh Marquess sold it to the King.
The decision to sell was said to be because the upkeep of the home was too much for the family.
And, out of fear its priceless contents would go up for auction, the King decided to buy it.
He never intended to shift into the home himself, but instead wanted to turn it into an attraction that people will travel to visit.
The King clearly shares his mother’s love for Scotland, as he splashed millions on the property and it’s revamp in an attempt to regenerate the region.
This project has been as much about people as it has about a physical place.
King Charles
The King is now hailed as the person who saved the estate from disrepair.
In an article for the Dumfries House Magazine on the 10th anniversary of setting up the trust, then King wrote: “This project has been as much about people as it has about a physical place.
“The way that our local communities and our employees speak with such pride as to what has been achieved is enormously rewarding and wonderfully motivating.”
That same year, seven years after His Majesty bought the home, the Queen visited it for the first time, and opened a walled garden named in her honour.
Visitors can still wander through the colourful garden, with art and fountains throughout, today.
The King and Queen Consort Camila were also said to have been at Dumfries House when they were broken the news that the Queen was unwell, before she died.
Dumfries House recently appeared on a special episode of The Repair Shop on BBC, where the King visited the workshop on site.
Now viewers will see get an insight into His Majesty’s plans throughout the project in a special Royal Grand Design on Wednesday November 30 on ITV.
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Source: The Sun
