Exclusive: Royal Property Could Turn into Wedding Venue of the ‘Highest Quality’ as King Charles Looks to ‘Increase Revenue Streams…. Read More

Plans to upgrade the King’s Dumfries House in Scotland follows quickly behind a proposal to turn a portion of Balmoral Estate into a wedding venue, as well

King Charles’ wedding venue portfolio is apparently expanding as the monarch seeks to “increase revenue streams in Scotland.”

After recent news that the King, 76, plans to turn Balmoral into a wedding venue, The Telegraph reported that, in addition to that property in Scotland that was Queen Elizabeth’s “happy place,” Charles wants to also build a new wedding venue at his Scottish home, Dumfries House.

The state-of-the-art facility at Dumfries House will provide high-end wedding packages, according to The Telegraph, and will be an upgrade from the current offerings at the historic house. At the moment, weddings are held in the Tapestry Room and receptions take place in a marquee erected on the grounds behind the east wing. “However, the tented structure is thought to detract from the character of the A-listed building,” the outlet reported.

The new venue — one of “the latest in a series of initiatives by the King to increase revenue streams in Scotland,” The Telegraph reported — will consist of one large ballroom-style room that will form an extension to the east wing of Dumfries House. It is expected to accommodate up to 200 guests. The wedding venue plans have been lodged with the East Ayrshire Council by The King’s Foundation, with a decision expected to be made in December.

The new pavilion will be an architectural improvement over the current pavilion, and its use as a wedding and event space will provide an income to support the continued conservation of Dumfries House and its estate,” submitted plans said, adding, “The primary function of the proposed extension is to provide a permanent venue for weddings, unique in character, and of the highest quality.”

In addition to the new pavilion, there will also be a new terrace and courtyard added between the main house and the new events space, according to The Telegraph.

Since King Charles acquired Dumfries House in 2007, it has become a “significant visitor attraction,” and various activities on the estate employ more than 150 people, according to The Telegraph. It opened to the public in 2008 following extensive restoration work.

This follows news in October that a building on the Balmoral Estate, the Queen’s Building, is due to be upgraded for “weddings, dinners, meetings and other events,” though a spokesperson for Balmoral said there are no plans for the estate to host weddings “as a commercial venture.”