On the Today Show - Prince Charles' Scottish Retreat (Dumfries House)

[artificer]

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/261848...98835#45898835

It is forum topical because there's a shot of HRH Prince Charles in a kilt at around 00:00:56 minutes.

ith:

[keltic falcon]

interesting project and house,i dont recall it being on our tv here in the uk.

[Phil]

I should say that to describe it as "Prince Charles' Scottish retreat" is a complete misnomer. I understand that he headed a consortium raising the funds to buy the place and its contents. More information here - http://www.dumfries-house.org.uk/about/ which gives the true story not the mis-representation in the programme.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I agree with Phil that there are a lot of inaccuracies in the televised report. And I am glad that Dumfries House is now open to the public, and that according to the link Phil supplied there will be a great deal of revitalization of the estate-- however, I can't help but wonder how planning consent was obtained for the construcion of an hotel, and housing scheme within the demesne or curtilage of the estate...

As an aside I was casually acquainted with Johnny Bute (or Johnny Dumfries as he was then known) back when we were both racing cars; he was a foxy fellow then, and I suspect he brought that same level of cunning to the sale of Dumfries House. By threatening "the sale of the century" he was able to goad a number of individuals into buying both the house (valued at £6.75 million) and the contents (estimated by Christies at "about" £14 million) while he avoided having to pay any commission on the sale (Christies' charges alone would have approached £2 million).

Since the sale to the consortium put a spare £3 million in Bute's pocket, I somehow don't think he was all that serious about selling off to "Johnny Public".

[Ancienne Alliance]

Thank you for the link.

It reminds me alot of Culloden House...




Best,

Robert

[McClef]

He certainly has a Welsh retreat that he uses for a week a year when performing his main programme of duties in Wales but I have not heard of him having a such a property in Scotland and it certainly isn't Dumfries House.

[Phil]

He certainly has a Welsh retreat that he uses for a week a year when performing his main programme of duties in Wales but I have not heard of him having a such a property in Scotland and it certainly isn't Dumfries House.

He uses Birkhall near Ballater on his frequent retreats to Scotland. It used to be for the Queen Mother's use until her death when Charles took it over, although it actually forms part of the Balmoral estate, owned by the reigning monarch.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I believe that Prince Charles also privately owns the Castle of May in Scotland, which he inherited from his grandmother.

[McClef]

I believe that Prince Charles also privately owns the Castle of May in Scotland, which he inherited from his grandmother.

I can't find anything on the official website that supports this - http://www.castleofmey.org.uk/index.cfm

It appears to be a charitable trust and HRH is not listed as a trustee.

HRH inherited Clarence House on the Mall from his grandmother.

[Rex_Tremende]

I should say that to describe it as "Prince Charles' Scottish retreat" is a complete misnomer. I understand that he headed a consortium raising the funds to buy the place and its contents.

The Today show segment was to promote the magazine, not really the estate. The story that accompanies the photos does discuss Prince Charles' role in assembling the financial backing to buy and restore the house. But the bit about it being his retreat comes from the penultimate paragraph in the article.



"...a suite reserved for his use alone," it states, but no mention of how it suits Camilla.

;-)

Regards,
Rex.