The Fixer Upper Prince Who Would be King

He’s everything and everywhere.  He’s the Zelig of the Royal Family.   He’ll be the King one day – that is if he outlives his mother which could be doubtful since the Queen is so healthy and able.  While he waits to become King, Prince Charles has kept himself very busy and productive.  He has been this way his entire life, he hasn’t wasted his waiting time.  Many other Prince of Wales get into trouble during their waiting period.  One even gave up his crown for the love affair that kept him busy while waiting.   This Prince of Wales has gotten himself in trouble only once, when he married the wrong woman - for him.

Both of his wives attended the first wedding.  Camilla was caught sneaking a glance at Diana.

The marriage to Diana was all wrong, especially when Charles obviously still loved his one-time girlfriend, Camilla.  Such a mistake at the altar by any other person wouldn’t be such a catastrophe. 

The problem, though, was the entire world loved Diana.   On top of it, her untimely death made his shame all the more powerful.   He’s since spent his adult life making amends to his family and his countrymen.

Now, at 70, he seems to have been forgiven.

  

And he seems to be very happy at last.

Personally, I never thought I would ever forgive him, but time has softened me and Charles & Camilla are soul mates, that much is obvious.  It’s just such a shame they didn’t realize that before dragging the innocent Diana into it all.

While all royals do charity work, Prince Charles’ life is dedicated to it.

He is the head of the Prince’s Trust, an incredibly successful charity endeavor that was his brainchild.  The Trust has uplifted the lives of countless young citizens who have benefited from his largesse.  Besides all his charitable endeavors, he is one of the world’s most respected conservationist – he’s been promoting the hazards of plastics in our oceans for over 40 years now, long before it became a chic topic.

He is both a talented artist and a businessman, his Duchy is profitable and ensures a worry-free future for his son, Prince William, the will-be Prince of Wales.

Despite all his fiscal responsibilities, Prince Charles makes time for his Fixer-Upper projects.   Move over Chip and JoJo Gaines, Charles has been fixing up old, neglected properties long before you were even born.  He has a keen interest in architecture and town planning and he has put his voice and ideas behind several notable projects such as Poundbury, a town created in his vision.

When it was being built, Poundbury was ridiculed as a Disneyland and it was expected to be a complete failure.  Instead, 25 years later, it is thriving and expanding.  Charles hired designer to the stars (and William & Kate!) Ben Pentreath to work for him on Poundbury.

 

  Pentreath’s latest Poundbury project is this highrise filled with top of the line and very expensive apartments.  I’d love to own that penthouse apartment in the corner under the cupola!!  That must be gorgeous inside!

With Prince Charles’ successes have come a new respect.  No longer is he belittled as the Prince who talks to his plants.

The Man Who Would Be King AND A Mr. Fixer Upper, Too!!

What many don’t know is that the Prince’s first Fixer-Upper was this small bungalow on the Isle of Scilly, a group of 200 tiny islands which is primarily owned by the Prince’s Duchy.  Located just 28 miles from Cornwall, the islands have belonged to the Duchy of Cornwall since it began in the 14th century.  Most of the land and 1/3 of the residential buildings on the Isles of Scilly belong to the Duchy.  Of the 200 islands, only five are inhabited and as you might guess, tourism is the biggest industry.  Over 100,000 people visited during the warm summer months last year.

As stated in the above newspaper clipping, Charles was still in college in 1969 when he purchased his first fixer-upper – the cottage on St. Mary’s Scilly island – called Tamarisk.  

  The First Property Prince Charles’ Bought For Himself, By Himself

The house, built in 1960, was not much to look at it, but he entertained friends there and let others borrow it during their own holiday stays. 

On Scilly.

While married,  Diana and Charles and the boys would visit the Scillys, but they would rent a larger house than Tamarisk on another Isle.

A scan of the house from a book about Diana.

An aerial view of the small white cottage before its major renovation.

In 2016, the Tamarisk was completely remodeled and is now available for holiday rental from The Duchy of Cornwall.  The change was incredible – but with even all the change, it still looks like a  cute, cozy beach house.

The new exterior hides any hint of its former contemporary façade.

The back of the house.

The view of the beach outside the window.

English beach style for the former 1960s contemporary.

I love the slate floor.

The French door leads to the back terrace with its stone and wood gate.

 

View towards kitchen.

One of the bedrooms.  Cute lampshades.

Another bedroom upstairs.

Tamarisk house on the Scilly Island is available for holiday rental HERE.    Imagine,  you can spend a few nights in the first house Prince Charles ever bought!  Of course, it looks a little nicer today!!

Even though his first Fixer-Upper was bought more than 45 years before the renovations took place, his country estate, Highgrove, should probably be known as Charles first Fixer Upper.

After marriage, Charles and Diana moved into Kensington Palace where renovations took place and Diana hired Dudley Poplak to do the interiors.

 

The famous yellow drawing room, photograph taken by her butler, right after Diana passed away.

Charles was more in charge of the renovations while Diana loved decorating their first home together (and their last, as it was to be.)    Charles’ heart wasn’t at Kensington Palace though – it was his country property that captured all his attention.

Charles “planting” the famous Thyme Walk outside his house at Highgrove when there were hardly any gardens yet planted.

Highgrove, his country estate, which was once a rather boring two story house, was a major Fixer Upper.   The house was panned by critics as not being grand enough for the future King of England, but Charles fell in love with it and within a few years both the house and garden were transformed. 

Before Charles:  The front façade before Charles added the pediment and pilasters.

Here, Highgrove is ablaze in fall colors.

Highgrove today. Pediment and pilasters were added to the façade, along with climbing vines.   

There are very, very few photos of the interior of Highgrove.   Diana used her own designer, Dudley Poplak at Kensington Palace and also at Highgrove.  After the divorce, Charles cleaned out all signs of Poplak, probably to Camilla’s liking too.   He then had Robert Kime completely redecorate his country estate, as well as Clarence House and his Scottish castle Birkhall.  

  

Prince Charles has taken on all the renovations for the houses and mansions where he now lives.   He has a keen interest in architecture and is very firm in his preferences for the old versus the new.

  Once he was divorced from Diana and left Kensington Palace, he and his boys lived at St. James in London, but it was just another waiting game.   Once his beloved grandmother, the Queen Mum passed away, the plan was that he would move to Clarence House, which of course he did.  

Robert Kime freshened up the interiors for the Prince and his boys and Camilla, who stayed there before they were wed. 

The gorgeous Garden Room at Clarence House.  Notice that tapestry!!!   This is the room where dignitaries meet privately with the Prince for drinks before dinner.

 

Notice the pair of paintings that flank the door.  I love the frames.  

That coffee table/ottoman!!  Those legs!!  Such a Kime touch.

The showstopper of the Garden Room is this chinoiserie desk.  But, couldn’t someone figure out a way to hide the lamp cords????!!!

Besides Clarence House, there was the Queen Mother’s house, Birkhall, at Balmoral that also

had to be redone. The estate sits on 53,000 prime acres on the River Deeside.

Birkhall proved a perfect home for Charles.  The front yard faced the river and he has spent almost 20 years restoring its gardens.

 

But, as it always happens, tragedy struck when a ferocious storm wiped out the garden and much of the land on the Deeside.   Charles was beyond devastated.  

During happier times.   The entrance to Birkhall is on the side of the house.

 

There are very few photos of Birkhall’s interiors.   Here is one from The Queen Mother’s stair hall.

The Queen Mother’s entry hall.

This summer Birkhall will be closed while it undergoes a much need renovation.   Hopefully we will see new photos of the interior, although Charles is not usually open to showing his personal spaces.

I’m dying to know if he hired Robert Kime to remodel Birkhall!!  Or, did he hire Camilla’s sister, the designer Anabell Elliot?

Annabel Elliot

With his townhouse Clarence House, his country house Highgrove, and his Scottish house Birkhall, all remodeled…what’s next for the English Fixer Upper?

How about something completely new and something completely removed from the Royal Family??

Dumfries House

Charles set his sights on Dumfries, which is considered one of the finest 18th century houses in Scotland.  Designed by the Adams Brothers and filled with custom Chippendale furniture the owners could no longer afford the upkeep.   All the furnishings were set to be auctioned off and were on the way to go under the gavel when Charles purchased the house at great expense.  The trucks turned around and brought back all the Chippendale furniture to the house.

Dumfries had to be completely restored including its gardens and all the Chippendale furniture.   The gardens are beautiful – especially seen from the air!

The restoration was a huge personal financial gamble for Charles  – but it has been a success.  Even the town has benefited – the house has created a large number of jobs and the rate of joblessness in surrounding areas has been greatly reduced.   The trust even completely restored the New Cumnock Town Hall.   The list of what has been changed by Charles because of Dumfries House is endless – all I can think about is if Charles hadn’t agreed to restore Dumfries House, what would have happened to the town, the people, and all that custom original Chippendale furniture which is priceless?

Today, the majority of the work on the house is done, but things keep being added, like a new health center and the old swimming pool was completely restored.   Additionally, like Poundbury, a town full of houses was built in Charles’ architectural vision and he hopes to bring in people to his new town.

A critical success, Dumfries House was shown in Architectural Digest and many other magazines.  Here’s the entry - I love the way it was furnished,n just like any entry hall in any large house might be.  Seagrass.  A center table.  Checked fabric.  A lantern.  A lit fireplace.   Dumfries House was restored by the Prince’s friend Baron Piers Von Westenholz and his one time partner David Minaric.

 

Another favorite room in Dumfries is the Picture Gallery.  At first the gallery was painted white, but today it is this rich green and it is just perfection.  I love how they added the sea grass for texture and then layered antique rugs over it – just like in a real country house!   And, I love the set of chairs along the walls in matching green.   The former owners must be overwhelmed with all the beauty when they come to visit.

 

My other favorite room – the small, Pink Dining Room.   Luscious!  Apparently this is the Prince’s favorite room too.  Yes!!!  Great minds think alike!  Notice the crown moldings – aren’t they gorgeous?!!  Can you imagine having breakfast in this room each morning?   More coffee, Ma’am??!!   Starbucks???  No??  Forget it!!!

Its fabulous chandelier was missing but one day, it was found in the basement, in a million and one pieces. 

One question.  Do they light the chandelier for breakfast?  Or not?  What if it is dark and gloomy? 

In order to make Dumfries House more of a financial success and bring in more visitors, a nearby dilapidated old building was turned into a boutique hotel. 

Built in 1750, for the past 200 years it had been the Factor’s House.  The Lodge has 20 rooms and 2 cottages.  And yes!  You can stay there too!!!

The Dumfries Lodge:

The Lobby.
The Lodge was an original fixer-upper, starting almost from scratch – more rooms had to be added in the charming courtyard.  Charles hired his sister-in-law to be in charge of all the decorations, including the guest rooms, each of which is unique.

 

Charles, Camilla, Princess Eugenie AND Annabel Elliot – Camilla’s sister.

Last year it was stated in the press that Annabel was paid $1.5 million pounds total for the work she had performed as Head Designer of the Prince’s Duchy of Cornwall.

Over the years, gossip has followed Annabel.   It was rumored that when Charles was married to Diana, he and Camilla would use Annabel’s house to tryst in private.  As a thank you, it was said, she was hired as his personal interior designer.

But, she actually has a large interior design firm on her own and she is quite talented and capable.

This guest room at the Dumfries Lodge is one of my favorites.  Love the canopy and its trim.

Another pretty guest room.

This one has a French vibe.

I love this room with the green wallpaper.  That rug!!!  This is a Lodge hotel ??

This is the room that stopped Charles in his tracks!   On the documentary made about Dumfries House, they caught Charles face when he first saw this room.   He was horrified at that headboard!!  Annabel was trying to calm him down, he was laughing – but it is obvious he HATES that headboard!  Watch the documentary HERE.  It’s very interesting.

My favorite!!   Ol’ Thomas Crapper was chosen – only the finest!!!

Dumfries Lodge is not the only place you can stay in that is owned by the Prince.

Here, is the property restored by the Prince’s Duchy of Cornwall.   As the Prince of Wales, the Prince visits Wales once a year – at least.  For over 40 years he searched for a piece of property to purchase – and he found it here,  at Llwynywermod.   It’s Welsh, don’t ask!!!

This estate was once owned by a relative of Anne Boleyn back in the 13th and 14th centuries.

There are two small cottages for rent here – the other is where the Prince and Camilla live when they are in town.  That’s their house, above.  So romantic!!!

Here’s Camilla visiting a few years ago when all the roses and flowers were blooming.

One of the two cottages for rentals.

For some reason these cottages are not on the web site anymore?  Perhaps they are rented out for the season. 

Cornwall:

In Cornwall, there are quite a number of holiday rentals owned by the Duchy of Cornwall.  This property, Restormel Castle, includes Restormel Manor at the right and a collection of small cottages around the courtyard.

The Manor is so large that it has been divided into three units.  You can rent the entire manor or one of the two smaller units.  

Before William & Kate were married, the Middleton family spent Christmas week here – renting out the entire manor.

Restormel is just a mile from the medieval town, Lostwithiel - the antiques capitol of Cornwall.

The King and Queen with Princess Margaret in the background, visiting Restormel Manor.    At this time this was the Dairy and today, this is still called that.  It’s one third of the manor available to rent by itself. 

Below is that same exact doorway.

That same doorway to the Dairy.  Each three sections of the manor have their own private terrace.  And notice how that white stucco façade is just that – a facades!  Behind it is an old brick house.

Last month House & Garden UK magazine published photos of the Restormel Manor, recently updated by…yes!  Anabelle Elliot, Camilla’s sister.

Actually, it was this magazine article is what I was going to write about!  But as usual, there was a more interesting story about all of Charles rentals, not just these.   

The front door to Restormel.

Through the entry to the stair hall and dining room.  Notice on the wall the group of prints, just like those found at Birkhall.

Another view, with the original concrete tiles.  Love that chair!

This is the photo of the renovated drawing room, shown in the House & Garden UK.   The walls were painted a deeper egg shell blue – which is Camilla’s favorite color.  Wonder how Annabel knew that?!?!   Love this photo of the drawing room!!

But…here is the room, before!  You can see a few fabrics were changed, as well as the wall color.  But…I might like this earlier version better!?!!

Both are beautiful and both are so authentically cozy English cottage décor.

From House & Garden UK – the dining room, with its chairs from OKA.  The wallpaper is from Cole & Sons.   This version of the dining room is a bit edited now, with its plain tablecloth and white dishes.

Before – lots of black accents and printed tablecloth made the room busier looking.  I prefer the updated look more.

The kitchen with its large skylight.

This is the main kitchen, but the two wings both have their own kitchens in case you rent one of those units.

    Cole & Sons wallpaper.  The main update for the magazine was the bedspread and the rug!

 

     Another bedroom in one of the two smaller units. 

     From House & Garden, Annabel updated the sofa with a new throw from Morocco.   She does that a lot – throws a throw over older upholstery.

   

Awww. And there it is!  Shiplap!!!   Those chairs are found throughout the Duchy’s  Cornwall properties and for good reason.   They are based on the old Navy Chairs, but they are made from Coca Cola plastic bottles HERE.

Of course the Prince would advocate something as ecologically thoughtful as this!

Another cottage used the chairs too.  The red presents a nice accent color, especially with the red striped fabric.

A drawing room in one of the two smaller units in Restormel.

Wisteria in season, growing up the façade.

Summer House.  This is one of the newer properties in Cornwall.   Small with just one bedroom, it was built into the wall of an 18th century garden.

Here, the stairs climb up to the house from the patio.  Underneath is a garden room, protected from the winds.

                                                                                 

Under the house – the garden room with its own warm fireplace!!

    

The stairs open to the small living room/dining room.   Notice the beautiful door and window used – even in a small house, by using key architectural elements like this you make the property look much more lux.

      

     

The main window overlooking the garden. 

The kitchen is a few steps down from the living area.

And the bedroom is further along from the kitchen.

Notice the door with the curtains.  That could have been just a typical door, but instead, it’s charming for such a tiny cottage.

                

And missing a closet?  Look how cute this is!!

The Summer House.

                                                                                                

There’s tennis and a spa with an indoor pool exclusive for the Duchy Holiday Cottage clients.

 

Nearby is the famous Cornwall Nursery run by the Duchy.

The newest property for the Duchy, Penlyne, is barely a mile to the medieval town of Lostwithiel, the antiques capitol of Cornwall.

The newest property is a totally renovated Tudor home.  A large extension to the right of the front, houses the living room.

The living room has the same Moroccan styled throw on the sofa.  Easier to manage than slipcovers, this is a good way to keep upholstery clean.

I love the dining room!  Wicker and rugs and leaded glass windows add so much texture.

The stair hall is covered in a deep gray wallpaper that ties in the black touches seen throughout.  Love the black flags on the floor!!!

The restored kitchen has black cabinets that make the bleached wood floor pop. 

Upstairs is a charming original bay window with the leaded glass. 

There are a lot of wonderful properties in Cornwall and The Scilly Isles – all cute and cozy.   Go HERE to see all the properties available.  

One mile from the Duchy’s Cornwall Restormel Holiday Cottages – antiques galore!!!

Let’s go up north.  To Scotland.

 

                                                                                                                                    The Castle of Mey

The Queen Mum first  saw this castle soon after the King died.  Needing a project and loving Scotland, she bought it and spent years restoring it.  This was the only house the Queen ever actually owned.

The Castle is located in Northern Scotland.  Imagine the map of England/Scotland and think of the northern most tip of the island.  That is exactly where Mey is located, located between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.  You can’t go further north than the castle. 

                                                 

Over the decades the castle had been added onto.  The front door leads to the foyer and the stairs.  Originally there was no foyer, the stairs were actually outside the castle.   And, to the far left, the dining room was added on at a later date by the Queen.  The Queen Mum would visit Mey twice a year, on her way to Balmoral and on the way back from her Balmoral holiday at Birkhall.  Charles & Camilla come once a year, for a week, on their way to Balmoral.

Now that Charles is in charge of Mey, ideas were formulated about how to make the Castle pay for itself.    Very expensive holidays at the Castle were sold to wealthy vacationers.  The package comes with butler service, chef, and all the fancy extras.  These exclusive holidays have been somewhat successful, but not quite as successful as needed to maintain the Castle.

To get it ready for guests and visitors, Charles hired his friend Baron Piers von Westenholz, who worked on Dumfries House, to help refresh the Castle of Mey.  To stop the damp, all new windows were needed at a huge expense, which was paid by a helpful donor. 

The entry, built around the stairs to enclose them.

Baron Piers von Westenholz styled the entry with the plaid runner and green lamp shades which play off the oil portraits.  The entry is so elegant today.

                                               

      

New curtains were purchased for the house which made everything look a bit less shabby.  The curtains were shredded from age.  The Baron used what was there, added new fabrics where needed. 

                                            

I love what he did here – added a banquette.   And notice the pillows!   Love that he has Fortuny mixed with the Suzani.  Brilliant!!!  The new drapery fabric hangs next to the antique tapestry which is the focal point of the room. 

A larger view of the drawing room redecorated by Piers.  He added a large ottoman in front of the banquette and and two white slipcovered armchairs. 

    

The Queen Mum added on the dining room and today, it is much the same as it was.

The study with the new fabric on chair and sofa installed by Piers.   All her knicknacks were left, along with her papers, clothes, and photos.

  

The Queen’s sitting room – slipcover and coir matting and red velvet.

     

The Queen’s bedroom, refreshed and updated.  Notice her tufted headboard seen in the mirror.

                                                                      

This is a guest room as it was originally designed.  I just love this, the simplicity mixed with the French antiques.

                                                                                                             

Today, the room looks more English.   It is still pretty, but I prefer the way it was before.

            

While paying visitors and the vacation packages were bringing in money, it was still not enough to sustain the castle without it going into debt.   Charles came up with a plan to turn the Granary into a boutique hotel or B&B, similar to the Lodge at Dumfries House.   An old building at the shore behind the castle was the perfect place to turn it into a small hotel.

You can see the granary here, at the shoreline before the castle and its walled garden.

Before.  A new wing was added behind this older section.  

After:   Not much changed from the outside, but inside it is so beautiful!!!

Before:  The left side shows the wing that attaches to the newly built one creating a U shape.

  The Granary – before it was restored.  Here is the section of the stairs.  See After, below:

                                                               

The Granary – After.    Old techniques were used on the rebuilding.  You can barely tell this is an After as opposed to the Before photo.

                                                                        

After.  The building looks almost the same except for the new windows and doors.

                                                          

The Prince came to open the Granary this May.  I hope they make this a success!  I love the castle and I would hate to see it be sold or neglected.

Before the Granary was finished, the man in charge of the renovation said of the Prince “at the moment we are planning the rooms, the colours, the fabrics, the lighting style and the furniture.  We get the Prince’s final decision on everything.  He loves the finer point of detail and that’s what he thinks really makes it special.”

Charles is a total, consummate Mr. Fixer-Upper!!!!

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   Through double doors is the drawing room or lobby to you and me!  Notice the doors – those are the ones with the wood shutters on them.

I’m obsessed with this décor!!!!!!   They used two gorgeous rugs of different styles layered over sisal.  In the middle is a center table to divide the room into two halves.  Notice the beams and the chandeliers!

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Here in a lighter photo you can see the second rug, which I love.  Notice the fabrics – all are either blue or peachy red.  This color scheme is used throughout the granary.  Most walls this Farrow & Ball blue.

This view looks out toward the added wing and courtyard.

The view towards to the right side.

The fireplace uses the same stacked stone that is found outside the building and on the surrounding fence.

In the corners are twin banquets in the same blue and peachy red.  Notice the squirrel – that is in honor of the Prince who loves red squirrels for some reason.   Apparently red squirrels are native to Scotland and are protected and universally loved in the country.  They are really cute!!!

A look at the center table and the other corner banquette.

The restaurant is filled with an assortment of Grandfather Clocks.  The entire room is filled with them!!!

Also, notice the collection of prints of Scottish men in kilts.  Hmmmm.  Reminds me of someone!!

The most handsome Scottish man in a kilt has to be Outlander’s James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser aka Jamie!!!!!

Sigh.

Outlander just announced that Season Five will be shown in 2020! WHAT?   Another year to wait?!?!  No!!!!!

If you want to watch a fabulous show about Scotland and time traveling, check it out on Netflix or Starz.

Even Prince Fixer-Upper agrees that Sam looks good in a kilt!  This May, Charles met with Sam Heughan who plays Jamie on Outlander at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Boy…look at those pants!   What a difference a few decades make.  All the younger men wear their pants so tight and here, the Prince shows off his baggy trousers.  I still like the baggy pants on men!!  Who wore it better?  Charles or Sam???? 

                                                           

The tour continues with more cute wallpaper.  This is the lobby which is covered in this paper.

Upstairs a wool stripped runner are some of the ten rooms and two suites which can be rented.

The upstairs hall is filled with vintage photos of his beloved Granny at the Castle of Mey.

The halls are so cute with wood floors and antique runners.

Just like at Dumfries Lodge, each room is different.  This room has windows on both sides of the room which makes it particularly appealing.

All rooms are painted in Farrow & Ball either blue or cream.  The fabrics are Colefax and other English companies. 

This room’s adjoining bathroom is papered in Farrow & Ball. 

A suite, with a sitting area. 

The adjoining bath.

Another suite in a bit more masculine tone. 

Blue on Blue and Cream.

The adjoining bedroom with the Farrow & Ball wallpaper.

                                                                                                                                     And green and blue.  I like this room.

So cute, this smaller room in white with the shell prints.

One last room with with an antique mirror on the chest.

                         
Hoping much success to the Castle of Mey and the Granary!!!

Tourism in Scotland increased dramatically with the popularity of Outlander – hordes of devotees come to visit all the sites where the series is filmed.  I don’t think most Outlander tourists ever venture this far north, but maybe they will now.  Also, some cruises stop here - I suppose the ones that go by Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

There are other rental properties owned by the Royal Family on Balmoral and Sandringham, but some aren’t quite as cute or decorated as the Prince’s are.    The Queen is obviously not a Fixer-Upper like her son, nor do I think she shares his love of architecture or interior design.  But there is one property that is especially enticing at Balmoral:  Karim Cottage.   This is the house where Queen Victoria’s Munshi, her Indian servant lived, while at Balmoral. 

The Munshi standing in front of the house that you can now rent on Balmoral..   Can’t quite compare to what Anabelle Elliot did for Charles with his Duchy cottages.

To see all the Royal family rentals at Balmoral, go HERE.

  While 99.8% of the Prince’s rentals are on royal properties or the Duchy’s land, there are two houses that are far away from home…

Transylvania. 

Home of Bran Castle in Romania where Queen Marie and King Ferdinand I last lived.   The castle is most famous for inspiring Bram Stoker whose 1897 novel Dracula lived in a castle that looked eerily like Bran Castle.  Dracula himself was based on Vlad the Impaler, a horrific ruler of Transylvania.  And yes, the Prince is related to Vlad,  he is Vlad’s great-grandson 16 times removed  through his great-grandmother, Queen Mary.

Transylvania?  It’s where Prince Charles owns two houses that you can also rent.

To understand it all, you have to meet a Romanian exile, who lived in Paris, and who trained as a vet and ornithologist. 

His name is Count Kalnoky and after the 1989 Romania revolution, he returned with his father to hopefully recover their lands which had been confiscated by the Communists.  The Count is, of course, distantly related to our favorite Fixer Upper Prince.  Almost anyone titled in Europe is distantly related, thanks to Queen Victoria and her numerous heirs. 

The Count did find his family’s castle, which was once a fortress.  It was later converted to a neoclassicist home in the 19th century.  It took years to restore the castle and even now, it isn’t quite complete, but almost!  In the early years, he used it as stables.  The Count lives with his Romanian wife and three sons who are now grown  and off to boarding school and college.  The Count has over a dozen guesthouses that he has restored and rents out to adventurous travelers. 

Above, is one of the Count’s cottage.  Isn’t it just the most charming cottage??!!  I love the bench and the lace covered table with slipcovered chairs.  There’s no TV, no WIFI, no radio.   There are CDs though.  And horses.  

Time stands still here – the wood is still brought in by horse drawn carriages.  Everything is as it once was, maybe better. 

The Prince first came to Romania in 1998, soon after Diana had passed away.  Charles had been invited to the country a decade after he had given an important speech against the Romanian communist leader Ceausescu.  At first the Prince came back year after year for a vacation, but, he slowly became involved with the country and its people.  He and his distant cousin Count Tibor Kalnoky became close and he ended up buying two houses from him – the only property he owns outside of England.

Today, the houses are available for vacation rental HERE. 

Prince Charles also started the Prince of Wales Foundation Romania HERE hoping to promote the ecological and architectural lessons to be learned here.

Transylvania is lost in time which is its most inviting reason to visit.  It was behind the Iron Curtain for decades during which time many inhabitants left, leaving its 13th century Saxon villages to crumble from neglect.   Today, the restoration is being sympathetically carried out,  its magical fairytale life is coming back to life.  Yet, life here is not to be confused with modernity.   Those who are behind the restoration want visitors to feel as if they stepped into a novel from the 19th century with all its charms and hardships.     Some of the streets are not paved and become dusty in the sun and muddy in the rain.   Horse drawn carriages add to the realism and flower filled meadows with long forgotten fruit trees add to the beauty.

 

Prince Charles has been quietly helping with the restoration of the area.   His houses is rented out when he is not in town.   His town Viscri is considered one of the most beautiful Saxon villages – it was to be destroyed by the Communist but is now called a “survivor.”

Prince Charles with Count Tibor Kálnoky

The Prince’s newer property.

 

Another of the Prince’s cottages.

The newest house is two stories with a loft. 

The fireplaces are very important, it gets extremely cold in the winter.

A view up to the loft.

One of the bedrooms.  That fireplace!!!!

Notice the rugs are nailed to the walls as a sort of wainscoting. 

A second bedroom.   No need to say it, but everything is authentic and from Romania, including all the textiles.

The Count’s house is almost totally restored now.  Gardens were recreated as they would have looked centuries ago.

The sides of the castle have unusual sloping angles that are painted in a pattern.  From the side the castle looks completely different that it does from its front. 

The front of the castle!  Wrapped in red fabric which is striking.

The castle is used as a venue for events, weddings, and the like.  It is also a working museum as to how life was…before the Communists almost ruined the beautiful country.

When the Count first came, he used this area as a stable for his horses.  His wife is an expert rider and they run a school for aerobatic riding.

The main floor in his castle is divided into rooms.  It is filled with antiques, like that beautiful piano. 

The main room is decorated as a living and dining area.

The dining room area.

The living room at the far left.  Past the original doors is a bedroom.

The bedroom.

The Count’s ancestor.

And another bedroom with its unusual ceiling.

The fireplace, beautiful!!!

Everyone is done as it once was and anything modern is rejected.  While this may be refreshing to the Count and the Prince, not everyone in his neighborhoods agree with this philosophy.   I found this quote from a local mayor which made me laugh:

“The residents of Zalánpatak are expected not to install double glazing, not to build big, modern houses, not even to tarmac the road, all in the name of preserving the quaint old village appearance. You cannot stop improvements to the village just because the prince and his foreign guests turn up once or twice a year to admire how poor we are.”

There is truth to this.  The countryside is not Disneyland.  Eventually, the roads should be paved if the country is going to move ahead to the future.  But I know our Fixer Upper Prince wouldn’t agree!

Count Tibor Kalnoky and his wife live in this house.

An inside view.

The Count and the Prince (should be the title of a novel!!!) are close as can be.  Charles sent the Count as his official representative at the funeral of Romania’s Queen Anne.

For a gift to Prince George, Charles grandson, the Count gifted him with a wildflower meadow.  What a gift!!!

I hope you have enjoyed this long, convoluted story about Prince Charles Fixer Upper heir to the throne.

I’m sure there have been other royals who loved architecture and design as much, Prince Albert comes to mind, but in our lifetime, Charles remains the standout.

I’ve been obsessed with his houses – Kensington Palace, Highgrove, Clarence House, Castle of Mey, Dumfries House and on.   And what’s the next best thing?  Rent a piece of property that Charles designed or bought!  What a fun vacation it would be.