Dumfries House celebrates the King's birthday
Members of the public who also turned 75 this year were invited along for the special day
Last updated 13th Nov 2023
Dumfries House is celebrating the King’s birthday in style, with a special tea dance for people turning 75 this year.
Members of the public were nominated by friends and family, as recognition for work they do in their communities, and the final guestlist was chosen by ballot.
The event, hosted by the newly renamed King’s Foundation will coincide with a similar party held at Highgrove in Gloucestershire, which King Charles will attend.
Betty Perry was nominated by her niece in Newfoundland, and found out when the invitation came through.
She said: “It was quite a shock, and quite exciting at the same time”.
Betty’s birthday is the same day as the King’s, and when she was born, her family received a special package from the Royals.
She said: “It was a hamper full of food, and one of the thing was a big chicken in a tin, a whole chicken.”
Betty was one of eight children, and she remembers her mother saying later she was glad of the extra food.
Ron Robertson, from Kilmarnock, has been a volunteer swim teacher in East Ayrshire for 43 years.
He was nominated by his daughter, and says he went straight to look out his kilt for the event.
When asked if he was looking forward to it, he said: “Very much so.
“It’s an honour really to get picked, I feel very lucky about it.”
The event is not just to celebrate birthdays though, it will also commemorate the 75th anniversary of Windrush, as well as 75 years of the NHS.
King’s Foundation executive director, Simon Sadinsky said: “One of the things that really quickly became apparent is that so many people have a relationship and a story with this place, and what it represents, and what it’s represented throughout their lives.
“I think this is a really unique opportunity to not just celebrate the big birthday, but also to celebrate people’s engagement with this place, and their stories with this place.”
The day will see food, music, and dancing for all the guests, and even an appearance from “a king of a different sort”, Dumfries House’s regular Elvis.
Head Butler at Dumfries House, Stuart Banks, said: “He always sets the place alight, and he’s quite a convincing Elvis to look at too.”
He added: "I just think that it’s just a special thing, and I love that these events are open to members of the public and people can come along and experience these sort of days.
“It was quite some time ago, my Gran used to come to the tea dances we had here, and I remember she would be telling her friends when I was round, ‘oh I was down at Dumfries House’.
“I’ve seen that first hand, and I think it just brings it on some more for me when I see all these guests enjoying themselves, and seeing some of the butlers they usually have a slow dance with and their faces light up.”
He finished: “Hopefully this one is a little more special as well, it’s a huge occasion.”