The King’s Foundation
The Dumfries House estate serves as the headquarters of The King’s Foundation, founded by King Charles III in 1990. We are His Majesty’s nature and sustainability charity, working to build sustainable communities and transform lives.
Our vision is a world where we live in harmony with nature to improve the wellbeing of people, places and the planet.
Building sustainable communities
The heritage-led regeneration of the Dumfries House estate and surrounding community is at the heart of our work, although we deliver projects across the UK and wider world.
The King’s Foundation transformed Dumfries House into a cultural and education hub with free public access.
The restoration of the estate and its benefits for the local community extend beyond its boundaries, with similar projects located in nearby New Cumnock – including the Town Hall and the Outdoor Swimming Pool.
King Charles III, speaking as the Prince of Wales“From those first early days, I saw Dumfries House as the catalyst for a model of heritage-led regeneration which would gradually extend far beyond the boundaries of this estate and benefit the wider community in East Ayrshire.”
10,000 students
6 skills
15,000 people
A sustainable approach
We are a part of nature
All our work at The King’s Foundation and Dumfries House is underpinned by King Charles III’s philosophy of Harmony.
The Harmony philosophy encourages us to see everything in nature as interconnected , including ourselves. Dumfries House is the home of Harmony, showcasing how health, wellbeing, sustainability and education can come together to have transformational benefits.
Tom Nolan, from Cumnock, who took part in our programmes to help him lose weight and embrace healthy-eating, tai chi and regular exercise“It’s no exaggeration to say that The King’s Foundation’s Health and Wellbeing programmes on the Dumfries House estate can change your life. From learning new habits and meeting new people, my approach to everything has changed hugely – for the better.”
Education on the estate
Study with The King’s Foundation
We offer a wide range of education opportunities for learners of all ages at Dumfries House.
Through our training courses, we help to protect traditional skills and improve access to, and understanding of, the natural world.
Visit our sister sites
The King’s Foundation manages other historic sites showcasing The King’s passion for the natural world. Visit us around the UK to see our work in action.
Support us
The King’s Foundation is a charity and we rely on the generosity of donors to deliver our work at Dumfries House and around the world.