King Charles surprised royal enthusiast Alice Ryce last week while she celebrated her 87th birthday at Dumfries House.
In a video shared on the monarch’s official social media account, Charles was seen taking a leisurely stroll when he encountered Alice and wished her a happy birthday.
His Majesty, 75, was heard saying, “Many congratulations,” before they shook hands. Alice’s shocked yet joyful reaction indicated that their unexpected meeting was a delightful surprise for her.
The King’s social media team captioned the post: “The King gave Alice Ryce ‘the surprise of her life’ when she bumped into him in the grounds of Dumfries House last week, on her 87th birthday.”
They added, “While visiting the estate, which is open to the public, Alice unexpectedly met His Majesty, who was thrilled to share in her special day. The King was in Ayrshire to support the work of The King’s Foundation, headquartered at Dumfries House. Happy birthday, Alice!”
Royal fans quickly took to the comments section to express their thoughts, with one saying, “What a lovely surprise for Alice,” while another remarked, “Probably the best birthday present ever!” A third user added, “A walk through the beautiful gardens and an unexpected, kind birthday greeting! A lovely day all around!”
King Charles acquired Dumfries House in 2007 while he was still the Prince of Wales. The estate spans 2,000 acres and features a beautiful 18th-century house and an adventure playground.
Unlike other royal residences, Dumfries House is not intended for Charles and Queen Camilla to live in; instead, it serves various educational and training purposes and is open to the public year-round.
In Scotland, King Charles and Queen Camilla also own a private residence called Birkhall, located on the Balmoral estate. This property hosted the couple’s honeymoon after their wedding in 2005 and later became Charles’s retreat during much of the COVID-19 lockdown.
In an interview with Country Life, Charles described the garden at Birkhall, saying, “It is such a special place, particularly because it was made by my grandmother. It is a childhood garden, and all I’ve done, really, is enhance it a bit.”
