Prince Charles is considering a plan to provide refugee asylum at Dumfries House as senior members of the royal family banded together to help Ukrainians fleeing the horrors of war.
- Prince Charles is said to be looking for space at his Dumfries House estate.
- Also viewed are plots in the possessions of the Duchy of Cornwall, including holiday homes.
- The Queen’s Balmoral estate on Royal Deeside and Sandringham can also provide vacation rental cottages.
Elderly members of the royal family are considering plans to open some of their homes to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the horrors of war.
Aides to the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William are expected to be exploring a number of “practical measures”, including job opportunities and training courses, as well as housing.
Charles is said to be seeking sites on his Dumfries House estate in Ayrshire, as well as plots on his holdings in the Duchy of Cornwall, which include several holiday homes.
The Queen’s Balmoral estate at Royal Deeside and Sandringham in Norfolk, which is privately owned and not funded by the taxpayer, can also provide rental cottage space and offer temporary tourism and hospitality related jobs.
Charles is said to be seeking sites on his Dumfries House estate in Ayrshire (pictured), as well as plots on his holdings in the Duchy of Cornwall, which include several holiday homes.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: “Everyone in the household — the Queen, Charles and William — are united in this, and all three agreed that they must find a practical way to help the Ukrainian refugees.
“That means looking for accommodation options in England, including in the Duchy of Cornwall, where Charles has many holiday homes, and in Scotland, where he has Dumfries House and the Queen has Balmoral Manor.”
The Queen, Charles and his wife Camilla, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have donated to a coalition of 15 UK charities working on the Ukraine Emergency Committee’s appeal.
Charles and William have also spoken out in support of Ukrainians resisting Russian aggression, but it is clear they are keen to do more as the British prepare to take in refugees under the government’s “Houses for Ukraine” scheme.
Charles and William have also spoken out in support of Ukrainians resisting Russian aggression, but it is clear they are keen to do more as the British prepare to take in refugees under the government’s “Houses for Ukraine” scheme. Pictured: Dumfries House
An insider at Dumfries House said the Prince’s Foundation, the charity that runs the 2,000-acre estate, is actively exploring how it can help Ukrainians with jobs, courses and housing.
The Manor Education Center regularly offers courses in skills ranging from gardening and sustainable farming to engineering. Last night, a royal family spokesman said: “The Royal Court is considering several ways to offer practical help and support.”
The royal family in Belgium last week said they would accept three families of Ukrainian refugees. Last year, King Philip and Queen Mathilde gave shelter to some of those who lost their homes in the flood.
Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), an organization representing country estates north of the border, said last week it had received pledges from more than 40 landowners.
William and Kate also offered to use their Royal Foundation to support Ukrainians with mental health problems after the horrors they have witnessed.
It is understood that SLE has reached out to Balmoral, the Queen’s 50,000-acre private estate that will open to the public next month and is currently touting housekeeping and housekeeping staff, as well as “enterprise visitor assistants” with lodging.
William and Kate also offered to use their Royal Foundation to support Ukrainians with mental health problems after the horrors they have witnessed. Dee Ward, vice chairman of the SLE, said: “Because the estates are rural businesses, many of them are in a happy position to offer not only housing but employment opportunities.
“There will be many Ukrainians with experience and talent in agriculture, food production and hospitality that can be of real value to our rural communities. We have no illusions about how difficult it will be for Ukrainians to come here, but we want to work with the Scottish and UK governments to provide opportunities for individuals and families wherever we can.”