King Charles III fans might be surprised to learn the traditional Christmas lunch at his Gloucestershire home of Highgrove has seen a significant price increase this year.
Each year he opens his home, considered to be his favourite private residence, to the public for a festive treat.
But a two-course Christmas lunch at the royal location’s Orchard Room restaurant will set you back £60 this year, a whopping 45.6% increase on last year’s price of £41.50.
To add on a third course is £10 more, bringing the total to £70.
And that does not include a tour of the famous gardens, which are closed for the season.
The listing on the Highgrove website reads: “Enjoy a relaxing two- or three-course lunch with family, friends, or colleagues in the beautiful surroundings of the Orchard Room restaurant.”
The listing on the Highgrove website reads: “Enjoy a relaxing two- or three-course lunch with family, friends, or colleagues in the beautiful surroundings of the Orchard Room restaurant.”
However, it is all for a good cause. “The sale of Highgrove products, garden tours and events support the charitable work of the King’s Foundation,” according to the website. The King’s Foundation runs a diverse programme of education and training for all ages and backgrounds, and aims to find solutions to challenges facing the world today.
Highgrove was purchased by the then-Prince of Wales in 1980, and he has invested time and effort into its gardens.
The monarch, who has a keen interest in the environment, transformed “a neglected kitchen garden, an overgrown copse, some pastureland and a few hollow oaks”. Now “an interlinked series of gardens unfolds in a succession of personal and inspiring tableaux, each reflecting HM The King’s interests and enthusiasms”.
The 18th-century house now welcomes up to 40,000 visitors a year. A spokesperson for The King’s Foundation said: “All revenue from commercial activity at Highgrove Gardens is invested into the work of the foundation, which offers education and training for more than 15,000 students every year. We are looking forward to welcoming guests to Highgrove once again for a range of festive experiences to benefit the charity.”
