A new documentary which follows King Charles’ commitment to save a dilapidated country house in Ayrshire will air on TV tonight.
Over a decade in the making, ‘A Royal Grand Design’ tells the story of King Charles’ ‘appalling risk’ to restore Dumfries House in Cumnock.The then Prince of Wales bought the rundown estate in 2007 after leading a consortium which paid £45 million for the 18th century stately home.His Royal Highness then launched an incredibly ambitious plan to transform the estate into a self-sufficient gem which would help to regenerate the local community.Now, Dumfries House welcomes thousands of visitors from the across the globe each year and is home to a leading education programme, training up people of all ages and backgrounds in skills such as hospitality, horticulture, future textiles, and building crafts.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android.And as well as saving the estate for the nation to enjoy, King Charles also saved the estate’s priceless fixtures and furniture collections; furnishings, which were already in trucks bound for a London auction house.A last-minute phone call diverted the rare and precious items back to Scotland – and now Dumfries House is home to the world’s largest and most complete collection of Chippendale furniture.King Charles has since admitted his plan to bring Dumfries House back to life was as an “appalling risk”
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