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Despite the snow hitting Highclere Castle, our judges have been able to spend the morning going through the first round of entries. Lady Carnarvon has been joined by Karine Hagen of Viking Cruises and Andrew McKenzie from The Vineyard to start the judging in the dining room, with the assistance of Finse, overlooked by Charles I.
We have been lucky to receive so many entries, allowing us to see everything you have been doing from the USA and Canada to Australia, Norway, and The Netherlands. Some of the entries have brought a tear to the eyes of our judges as you have shown such dedication to not only hosting a wonderful dinner party but donating to PBS and charities all over the world. There have been replicas of the Titanic, amazing photos of the recipes in At Home at Highclere, vintage cars, masquerade balls, Downton Abbey themed parties, and an amazing mix of guests (with the dogs being particularly appreciated by Lady Carnarvon and Karine). All of these amazing things have provided a platform to raise awareness of PBS as well as the opportunity for people to do a little bit extra for charity.
The stories being told through each of your competition entries have provided a wonderful warmth through the icy conditions and thick snow. March will give time for the judges to provide a list of their favourite submissions, for the announcement of the Grand Prize winner to be made in a few weeks time…
Instagram
From Canada –
It was a great pleasure to welcome you into our homes as you have welcomed so many of us. Thank you for “cooking” up such a great fundraising campaign for wonderful PBS and other charities.
Great fun was had by all! Looking forward to seeing your favourites.
Heather & Walt
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
It would be difficult to concentrate with that overwhelmingly powerful portrait of Charles I on his magnificent horse looking over my shoulder! I would be gazing at your gallery in awe! Although unable to participate, we have followed with great interest your competition and very eager to see the creativity of the participants and cheer for the winner! Lovely photo of you all hard at work with Finse standing guard!
Lady Carnarvon,
I can only imagine how gratifying (and fun!) it must be to see your inspiration and your household recipe’s spring to life around the world. To know that you are spurring others on to both do their bit for PBS and create a lasting memory with family and friends must be rewarding indeed. There has been a lasting glow and a sense of generosity and goodwill amongst our group ever since our dinner. This undoubtedly has a ripple effect to those around us. Very well done on the part of you, Ms. Hagen and Mr. McKenzie. I believe that together we all are making the world a little bit better and kinder, one dinner party at a time.
Well, you three (four, counting Finse of course) look as though you’re having a great time going over our entries. What a perfect setting, too.
We had such a great time with our party and can hardly wait to see a little of the others.
I also want to thank Jonah in the office there for his thoughtful care when presented with my problems transmitting photos with my hardly adequate server. He was able to make suggestions that eventually worked. Please pass on my thanks.
All for now, from heavily snowy NW Montana!
Margaret
I love how the 2nd picture also included your dog – reminded me of Downton Abbey scenes with Isis. Always love seeing pictures of your events, thank you for sharing!
I am sure the judging will continue to be a moving experience. It was such a pleasure to participate!
I was not able to participate but I look so forward to seeing all the pictures of those who did!
Looks like Finse is on guard to make sure the judging goes well and Charles I is definitely keeping an eye on all the goings on! Can’t wait to see all the wonderful dining moments from around the world, you surely are an inspiration for all of us. Sending some warm Greek sunshine your way, stay cozy by the fireplace and may the Spring sun come soon!
Be still my heart — to see all of you in the dining room (including the dog))looking through entries is just like me using the dining room table to address Christmas cards (in November of course). I love seeing pictures of the Lord and Lady of the manor doing ordinary things — I guess I have fairy tale thoughts that place you in tiaras and royal robes all the time!
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I am sad to say I was not able to send an entry to the contest. We support PBS as it is, but I really wanted to enter the contest. We are re fitting our old house and there was no place to host such a gathering. I’m so disappointed! But I look forward to following this exciting process, even if I could not be a part of it.
Thank you!
Thank-you so very much for doing such a wonderful thing for PBS! I loved seeing the photos of you allin the dining room sorting the entres! You are brilliant to do this!
Enjoy the snow!❄️
Elizabeth from the other Richmond
Loving hearing all that is going on at Highclere and hope that you are warm and safe during the snow storms that have hit. That is a beautiful photo of the castle in the snow!
I can’t wait to see your favourites!!! So excited!
The tables set in Downton Abbey were fabulous just to look at let alone sit! And on another note, perhaps off-topic, but I thought I would let you know that the King Tut exhibition is out here at our California Science Museum. Can’t help but think of Mr. Carnarvon back in the day!