Melanie Andrews, owner of the Craigard Tea Room, never imagined she’d be rubbing shoulders with royalty, but did exactly that at the dinner, which was held to celebrate the restoration work done at the house and to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink.

Melanie told the Advertiser: “It was definitely the highlight of my career.

“I was absolutely honoured to get a chance to see the great work being achieved here at Dumfries House and to see the finished restoration of this remarkable house .

In 2007 HRH Prince Charles used £20 million of his own charitable foundations money and personally brokered a £45 million deal to secure the house and its collection of Chippendale furniture.

The idea was to create a sustainable business that would help regenerate the local economy in east Ayrshire.

Throughout the dinner, meals were served by local students currently undertaking a five-week hospitality course as part of Get Into programmes delivered at Dumfries House through the Princes Trust in collaboration with its sister charity.

Speaking of her experience, Ms Andrews said: “The evening was a fantastic celebration of Scotland’s larder and all things Scottish including the meal which was cooked, prepared and served by the Hospitality five-week course students .

“In high school and full-time education there seems to be a lack of hospitality courses available so Dumfries House is admirably aiming to fill this gap.

“The overriding thought I went away was that it was quite a humbling experience. It’s certainly something I’ll never forget.”