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King Charles to take on 'challenging' project in A Royal Grand Design

King Charles III in A Royal Grand Design (ITV)
King Charles III in A Royal Grand Design (ITV)

King Charles III has admitted it was an 'appalling risk' to attempt to renovate Dumfries House for A Royal Grand Design.

The upcoming ITV documentary will see the newly crowned monarch work to save the stately home in Ayrshire to regenerate the local community.

King Charles raised around £45 million to help restore the estate, explaining: "There are very, very few such houses left."

Read more: 'The Crown' season five: Who is Dominic West, the new Prince Charles?

The noted conservationist added: "If we hadn't stepped in, saved it, all this wonderful [Thomas] Chippendale furniture would have literally gone everywhere and we would have been left with a completely empty shell of a house."

From B4Films Ltd

A ROYAL GRAND DESIGN
Wednesday 30th November 2022 on ITV

Pictured: HRH seen here during the build of the Walled Garden at Dumfries House in Scotland

Over a decade in the making, this insightful film tells the story of a Prince with an incredibly ambitious plan to save an 18th Century stately home in the most rundown area of the UK and turn it into a self-sufficient gem which would help to regenerate the local community.



When HRH took on the house, it was, in his own words ‘an appalling risk’.  He led a consortium that paid £45m for the dilapidated estate. Now, this hour-long special provides an insight into The Prince’s commitment and passion for this Royal Grand Design.

(C) B4Films Ltd

For further information please contact Peter Gray
Mob 07831460662 /  peter.gray@itv.com

This photograph is (C) B4Films Ltd and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme A ROYAL GRAND DESIGN or ITV. Once made available by the ITV Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the Transmission date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.com
King Charles III oversees the build of the Walled Garden at Dumfries House in Scotland. (ITV)

Charles further explained what he hoped to achieve through the regeneration: "I wanted to try and make a difference to the local area. It had many of the worst indices of unemployment and ill health and everything else.

"I'm one of those people who likes taking on the most difficult challenges. I felt it was worth taking this appalling risk and taking out such a big loan."

Charles took a very hands on role in the restoration of the house, overseeing developments with a bunch of experts.

From B4Films Ltd

A ROYAL GRAND DESIGN
Wednesday 30th November 2022 on ITV

Pictured:Dumfries House in Scotland

Over a decade in the making, this insightful film tells the story of a Prince with an incredibly ambitious plan to save an 18th Century stately home in the most rundown area of the UK and turn it into a self-sufficient gem which would help to regenerate the local community.



When HRH took on the house, it was, in his own words ‘an appalling risk’.  He led a consortium that paid £45m for the dilapidated estate. Now, this hour-long special provides an insight into The Prince’s commitment and passion for this Royal Grand Design.

(C) B4Films Ltd

For further information please contact Peter Gray
Mob 07831460662 /  peter.gray@itv.com

This photograph is (C) B4Films Ltd and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme A ROYAL GRAND DESIGN or ITV. Once made available by the ITV Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the Transmission date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.com
Over a decade in the making, this insightful film tells the story of a Prince with an incredibly ambitious plan to save an 18th Century stately home. (ITV)

Dumfries House also now employs 250 people, up from 15 when Charles begun his restoration of the estate.

Jim Brown, an executive producer on A Royal Grand Design, said: "I remember [the King] saying to me 12 years ago: 'This is not about things; this is about people, people living in the most deprived area of the UK – people with very little future – very little to look forward to.'

From B4Films Ltd

A ROYAL GRAND DESIGN
Wednesday 30th November 2022 on ITV

Pictured: HRH speaking to apprentices at Dumfries House in Scotland

Over a decade in the making, this insightful film tells the story of a Prince with an incredibly ambitious plan to save an 18th Century stately home in the most rundown area of the UK and turn it into a self-sufficient gem which would help to regenerate the local community.



When HRH took on the house, it was, in his own words ‘an appalling risk’.  He led a consortium that paid £45m for the dilapidated estate. Now, this hour-long special provides an insight into The Prince’s commitment and passion for this Royal Grand Design.

(C) B4Films Ltd

For further information please contact Peter Gray
Mob 07831460662 /  peter.gray@itv.com

This photograph is (C) B4Films Ltd and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme A ROYAL GRAND DESIGN or ITV. Once made available by the ITV Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the Transmission date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.com
HRH speaking to apprentices at Dumfries House in Scotland. (ITV)

"When we started filming in 2010, less than 15 people worked on the estate. When we wrapped in 2022, over 250 people were in full time employment at Dumfries House."

King Charles III will also be appearing on a special episode of The Repair Shop.

A Royal Grand Design airs on Wednesday 30 November at 9pm on ITV1.

Watch below: King Charles III 'has hit the ground running'