A ROYAL TREASURE

Newlywed James Lowsley-Williams invites us to the stunning Cotswolds country estate where he grew up playing with princes William and Harry and where the hit show Rivals was filmed

- ROSALIND POWELL

Nestled in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, Chavenage House has become a bit of a local celebrity. The Elizabethan estate, near the picturesque village of Tetbury, is a stone's throw from Highgrove House and Gatcombe Park - the country homes of King Charles and Princess Anne - and served as a playground for Prince William and Prince Harry as children.

The beautiful Grade I-listed manor has also starred in films such as the Oscar-nominated remake of Emma, with Anya Taylor-Joy, as well as TV hits like Poldark and, more recently, Rivals. Based on Jilly Cooper's best-selling book, the Disney+ series featured a host of famous faces including David Tennant and The Hobbit actor Aidan Turner - who starred in both shows, and, as a result, is a familiar sight at Chavenage House.

“Aidan used this bed to do a sex scene in Poldark, and then when Rivals came along, he used the same bed,” notes James Lowsley-Williams as he gives Hello! a tour of one of countless bedrooms in the home where his family has lived for six generations. “Aidan loves to tell that story,” he adds with a laugh.

James, 32, who is charming, humorous and enthusiastic – like the many excited dogs that scamper at our heels – guides us through a maze of passageways and tucked-away rooms before we arrive in the Great Hall.

Leading from the entrance is the wood-panelled Oak Room and the magnificent ballroom, with a window seat that offers uninterrupted views across the Marlborough Downs. It was against this romantic backdrop that James and his wife, Emma, held their wedding reception on Dec. 21, following a ceremony at St. Mary's Church in Tetbury, in front of 240 guests. Dinner in a marquee was followed by a party in the ballroom.