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Letter From HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay.

When Dumfries House first came to my attention in 2007, my vision for this Palladian mansion and its contents was to restore them to their former glory. In doing so, I hoped that present and future generations would be able to visit and enjoy the different facets of life and times of a bygone era and to appreciate British craftsmanship at its best.

Indeed, it is heart-warming that today there are still those individuals who process the skills, learned over many years, to undertake such a restoration project and who take pride in mastering their craft – from the painstaking work in unearthing the intricate paintwork in the West Wing Corridor, hidden under layers of paint, to the re-creation and weaving of the original damask for the newly restored, priceless furniture. Such endeavours take time and patience, but it is truly amazing how far we have come in just four short years

“I hoped that present and future generations would be able to visit and enjoy the different facets of life and times of a bygone era and to appreciate British craftsmanship at its best.”

Regeneration has by no means been confined to the house. The education programme, in collaboration with local schools and communities, continues to grow and has fostered positive, interactive exchanges. Local school children regularly visit the farm and the new facilities at the stables will accommodate students on study seminars.

Stewardship of such an impressive estate cannot remain complacent and The Trust continues to explore future possibilities to enhance not only the estate, but also the built environment. I commented previously that visitors would see the house as a ‘work in progress’ and, despite huge strides that have been made, the premise still remains and will do for the foreseeable future.

It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to the team who have so enthusiastically supported me in my endeavours and my appreciation also goes to the trustees and staff who have shared my vision for the future of Dumfries House and who have worked tirelessly to achieve those aims.

I hope you will grasp the opportunity to explore and take in the natural beauty of the estate and comprehend the scale of works still to be completed. Above all, I do hope you will find the whole visit a pleasurable experience.