The monarch’s Dumfries House estate in Scotland is set to become a private function space, with the hiring costs financing Charles’s lifelong charity work
King Charles is set to start hosting weddings and private functions at a new commercial venue on his charity’s Scottish estate. The development, which is to be named The King’s Hall in honour of the monarch, will add a huge extension to the east wing of Dumfries House in Cumnock, East Ayrshire, costing approximately £6.5 million.
The single-storey extension will include a 282 square metre public hall and will cater for private events of up to 200 guests. Those wishing to tie the knot on the royal grounds will be charged from £5,500 for midweek weddings and rising to £8,500 for weekends, plus catering.
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The King’s Foundation, which was established by Charles more than 35 years ago, said it wants it to become the “go-to venue for high-end, luxury weddings and private events” both nationally and internationally. The extension, which is set to open in 2027, is intended to match the architecture of the 300-year-old house and will be built using the same techniques using locally-sourced materials.
Gordon Neil, executive director of The King’s Foundation, said: “The most important thing for The King’s Foundation, given our education programmes in architecture and heritage craft skills, was to produce a building that incorporated traditional crafts and locally sourced building materials.
“We’ve used a local quarry to mine the stone and utilised the same building techniques as those used to build Dumfries House 300 years ago, while also incorporating newer techniques and elements that we need to include to meet today’s building standards.”
Mr Neil added: “This is such an exciting chapter in the journey of Dumfries House and will only enhance our fascinating history. The King’s Hall will be a true testament to the impact of His Majesty on Dumfries House and the vital education and employment it provides.”
Evan Samson, general manager of Dumfries House, said: “The King’s Hall will offer the intimacy, atmosphere and historic grandeur that guests have come to associate with events and special occasions at Dumfries House.
“The development of The King’s Hall represents a very exciting time for everyone at Dumfries House. This new venue will give us a unique offering that will become part of the House, appointed and furnished to luxury standard, and sufficiently versatile to host a broad range of events. It opens doors for us to entertain so many more types of events and cater for so many people.
“The space will offer guests the opportunity to access the historic house, with the added benefit of revenue going to create employment for the local community and opportunities for thousands of people each year through The King’s Foundation’s education programmes.”
The King’s Foundation said the proceeds from ticketed events and venue hire will finance the conservation and development of the house and estate, as well as the foundation’s numerous education programmes and community initiatives.
Dumfries House was built between 1754 and 1759 for William Crichton – Dalrymple, 5th Earl of Dumfries, with Robert Adam as the lead architect. It was then bought by the King’s Foundation in 2007.
The new extension will mean The King’s Foundation will be able to host five or six large-scale events each week, compared to the current average of one or two due to space restrictions. The first events in The King’s Hall will be held in July 2027.
Source: Mirror
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