Charles charges a King's ransom for 18th century dining experience at his Scottish mansion Dumfries House
- Meal includes dishes such as poached salmon and roasted venison and beef
- Guests will be welcomed by a bagpiper and given a tour of the lavish property
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It is a period in history when Britain was the wealthiest nation in the world, Jane Austen was at the height of her literary prowess and the country was a powder keg of political and civil unrest.
Now, people keen to get a taste – quite literally – of life in the 18th century are being given the chance to eat like Royalty at the King’s Scottish pile – all for the princely sum of £375.
Extravagant meals are being served in the mansion’s Pink Dining Room, which is said to be a favourite of King Charles and features a Pink Murano Chandelier that dates back to 1760 as its centrepiece.
The room – with its pale rosy hue – is the best preserved in the property, which was saved for the nation in 2007 by a consortium led by Charles as the Prince of Wales.
The King is said to be a particular fan of the pink-tinted rococo plasterwork on the walls and ceiling, inspired by the Roman ruins of Palmyra in Syria, and eats there when he stays at the mansion.
Guests will be welcomed to each lavish bash by a bagpiper before enjoying a drinks reception and then a guided tour of the house before dinner.
The event, which Dumfries House said are its ‘most exclusive to date’, will see dishes paired with fine wines by London-based Corney & Barrow – which was the first drinks company to be awarded a Royal Warrant by King Charles.
The candlelit dinners will take place exclusively on Saturday 15 and Saturday 22 March, with only 16 places available for each sitting.
King Charles is said to be a fan of the Pink Dining Room where guests will have dinner
Venison is one of the dishes being served up during the exclusive events
Meals will be served in the Pink Dining Room at Dumfries House
Menus will be based on 18th century dishes, such as poached salmon, fish soup, and manchet bread for starters, followed by roasted venison and beef, parmentier potatoes and a juniper sauce, and lemon and pistachio syllabub, bread and butter pudding, and apple and almond trifle for dessert.
Evan Samson, who leads the front of house team at Dumfries House, said: ‘Since The King’s Foundation opened Dumfries House to the public in 2008, we have strived to offer visitors an insight into the history of the estate, its occupants and the House’s collection.
‘Our 18th Century Dinner is our most exclusive event to date, and will be authentic to the 1700s, with traditional butler service – including the meal being served ‘family-style’ – and a menu researched and prepared by our world-class chefs that reflects the culinary fashions typical of country houses in that age.’
Proceeds from commercial activity on the estate – including tours of Dumfries House, weddings, and events such as the 18th century dining evenings all support the work of The King’s Foundation, which provides practical education courses for over 15,000 students every year.
The lives of the rich and poor in 18th century Britain were vastly different.
The Industrial Revolution, which started in the middle of the century, saw the arrival of new machinery that saved time and made many landowners very wealthy.
However, as the rich got richer the poor saw life become increasingly harder with many people out of work as machines made them largely redundant.
The 18th century was a tumultuous one – especially in Scotland as a result of the bloody Jacobite uprisings.
Highly romanticised in stories and songs, the uprisings, in reality, were a much bleaker affair, marked by numerous battles between 1689 and 1745.
Poached Dressed Salmon will be on the menu at Dumfries House
Manchet bread, very fine white bread made from wheat flour, will be served
Prince Charles Edward Stuart, called 'The Young Pretender' and 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'
The Jacobites were supporters of the exiled Stuart dynasty, who aimed to overthrow the ruling House of Hanover and restore the Stuart kings to the British throne.
Prince Charles Edward Stuart was the grandson of the deposed Catholic King James VII of Scotland and II of England.
Also known as 'Bonnie Prince Charlie', he and his followers believed the throne of Great Britain rightfully belonged to the House of Stuart, and led the Jacobite Risings of 1745, to overthrow King George II.
However, their efforts failed, ultimately leading to the tragic Battle of Culloden.
Meanwhile, culinary trends and life in the latter part of the 18th century was memorably explored in the sixth and final episode of BBC historical show The Supersizers Go – starring Giles Coren and Sue Perkins.
The episode, which aired in 2008, was dedicated to the Regency period and saw the pair live life as if they were a pair of well-off siblings.
Coren jokingly took on the role of a small landowner with an inheritance of around £50,000 and Perkins his unmarried sister.
With chef Rosemary Shrager cooking for them at a British country manor house, the hosts enjoyed the full trappings of the landed gentry.
During their experience they ate a boar’s head and salmon poached in Champagne and explored the origins of the sandwich while gambling at gaming tables or the era.
Discussing her experience as an 18th century woman, Perkins previously said: 'In the earlier programmes, I'd been overseeing the kitchen, but suddenly I found myself with absolutely nothing to do except wait for a husband.
'Giles Coren kept going out, and I was left at home to eat grilled cheese.'
