King Charles’ ‘appalling risk’ explored in new TV special as he opens up about ‘rescue’ mission

King Charles’ “appalling risk” is to be explored in a new TV special as he opens up about a major “rescue” mission. 

• The King is set to appear in a decade-in-the-making TV documentary about the restoration of Dumfries House in Scotland.  
• A consortium led by the then-Prince of Wales bought the property in 2007 and proceeded with plans to breathe new life into the house and estate.  
• This royal news comes as we revealed the Queen’s wedding bracelet featured a sweet connection to Prince Philip’s family. 

Unlike the late monarch who famously never gave interviews, the eldest of the Queen’s children, King Charles, has often shared fascinating insights in magazine pieces. In doing so, His Majesty has always been keen to shine a spotlight on the causes closest to his heart. Now King Charles’ “appalling risk” is set to be explored in a new TV special which will reportedly see His Majesty get candid about an immense “rescue” mission he was involved in 14 years ago.

Whilst King Charles currently resides in Clarence House and enjoys spending time at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, and Birkhall in Scotland, he also owns another beloved home he's intentionally never lived in at all. On November 30, ITV will air King Charles’ Green Grand Designs, which will reportedly explore the purchase and restoration of the 18th century stately home, Dumfries House, in Ayrshire.  

Bought in 2007 by a consortium headed by the then-Prince Charles with £20 million from his own charitable foundation and brokering a final deal of £45 million to secure both the house and furniture, he described this move as an “appalling risk”. The film has been a decade in the making, following the process to transform the dilapidated property to save it from ruin and is narrated by Richard E. Grant.

According to OK!, King Charles explains to viewers, “I knew if we hadn’t stepped in and saved it, somebody would have bought it and said they had a great idea, you know for golf courses and things and it would never have worked, so, it would have joined the list of yet more derelict country houses.”

He continued, “The buildings we’ve built, a lot of them have been done by students, live build, learning. Sustainability, all of that agenda is critical here because there’s a lot of engineering skills, for instance, we are trying to help develop, working on the STEM educational side and the vocational side in order to make this area as a great example of how you can create new businesses and jobs in the green economy.”

The restoration of Dumfries House and its estate was a major undertaking for The Prince’s Foundation. Reflecting elsewhere in the programme, His Majesty reportedly shared exactly why it was so important to him to give Dumfries House a new lease of life and “rescue” it. 

“I wanted to rescue the house, because it is of such importance, I knew it was a very deprived area,” he says. “I wanted to use it as a proper example of what I’ve always believed in, which is heritage-led regeneration. And trying to show people that it works.”

During the documentary, King Charles is said to be seen helping the lead garden designer to plant trees in the wall garden  as well as going through their visions and drawings. Fans will get to learn how they saved pieces of antique furniture as well as His Majesty’s plans to include an outdoor adventure center, artists’ studio, teaching farm and horticultural and education center at Dumfries House. 

In a sweet moment, the programme will also reportedly show the King giving the late Queen as well as Prince William a tour. Fans can enjoy watching King Charles’ “appalling risk” turn into a restoration success on November 30.