Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has traveled to Scotland on Tuesday, following an invitation by Charles, the Prince of Wales.
At a meeting with the heir to the British throne in the Dumfries House in Ayrshire, they discussed ideas to develop the former royal estate at Tatoi in north-western Athens.
The Greek PM tweeted that he discussed with Prince Charles the strategy implemented by the Prince Foundation for the restoration of the Dumfries house, adding “our goal is the appropriate promotion of the estate and facilities of Tatoi.”
Στη συνάντηση με τον Πρίγκιπα της Ουαλίας Κάρολο, στην έπαυλη Dumfries House, συζητήσαμε για τη στρατηγική που έχει εφαρμόσει το Ίδρυμα του Πρίγκιπα για την αποκατάσταση της έπαυλης. Στόχος μας είναι η ανάλογη ανάδειξη του κτήματος και των εγκαταστάσεων του Τατοΐου. pic.twitter.com/Nm2KmwV4ei
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) April 26, 2022
Mitsotakis will be given a tour of the 18th-century Dumfries House and its estate, which is part of The Prince’s Foundation. The Greek premier will be staying at the estate during his 24-hour visit.
Dumfries House is one of Britain’s most beautiful stately homes. Set in 2,000 acres of land, this stunning estate and 18th-century house with its unrivalled collection of original furniture has something for everyone.
Τhe Dumfries estate is managed by The Prince’s Foundation, which assumed the renovation of the historic house and the working estate, and preserving the cultural heritage of the region was part of the discussion during the meeting between the premier and the prince.
Open to the public, the estate also hosts educational, environmental, and cultural events and is visited by thousands of school children every year.
Tatoi 1889
Prince Charles had reportedly expressed keen interest on the issue when he had paid a visit to Greece in March 2021, for the centennial of the Greek War of Independence.
Νote that Prince Andrew, the father of the late Prince Philip, and grandfather of Prince Charles is buried in the cemetery of Tatoi.
Government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou said on Tuesday that the budget for refurbishing the former royal estate in Tatoi is 75 million euros that will come from EU funding, the Recovery Fund and private donations.
The Greek state will manage 32 buildings in the estate, while another 22 will be given to private investors.
Reconstruction has already began and is schedule to be concluded by the end of 2025.
Greek opposition parties left-wing SYRIZA and Communist KKE criticized PM Mitsotakis for seeking royal assistance for the former royal estate suggesting he tries to win local royalists ahead of the elections.
The Monarchy was abolished in Greece with a referendum in December 1974, where 69.18% of Greeks voted against Kings and Queens.
PS Ages ago while I traveling London-Belfast, I mistakenly got off the train in Dumfries. No, I did not visited Dumfries House, that was not saved yet, back then, I just got on the next train to Ayr and land to Stranraer to get a ferry to Northern Ireland.
