What it’s REALLY like to live in a stately home: Stylist and ex-reality TV star Lady Camilla Beresford opens the doors to her family seat in Ireland – and tells how a tour group once walked in on her watching the Kardashians
- Lady Camilla Beresford, 26, is the daughter of the 9th Marquess of Waterford
- She threw open the doors to the family’s stately home of Curraghmore House
- Said life as an aristocrat isn’t as glamorous as it seems and she pays her own way
- Told how a tour group once walked in when she was watching reality TV
The fashionista daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Waterford has revealed what it is really like living in a stately home – and it’s not as glamorous as it might appear from the outside.
Lady Camilla de la Poer Beresford, 26, daughter of former professional polo player Henry Beresford, the 9th Marquess of Waterford, threw open the doors to her family seat of Curraghmore House, near near Portlaw, County Waterford, for a stunning spread in Tatler magazine.
The stylist was 19 when her parents took up residence in the 855-year-old stately pile, which is one of Ireland’s oldest residencess and the home of the Marquess of Waterford and his ancestors since the 12th century.
Lady Camilla de la Poer Beresford, 26, daughter of former professional polo player Henry Beresford, the 9th Marquess of Waterford, threw open the doors to her family seat of Curraghmore House. Pictured, Lady Camilla relaxing in one of the stunning rooms
Nestled in 2,500 acres, the historic house boasts an exquisite collection of art and furniture and looks out over sprawling grounds including tiered lawns, a lake and arboretum. Pictured, Lady Camilla poses for a photo in front of Curraghmore House
Nestled in 2,500 acres, the historic house boasts an exquisite collection of art and furniture and looks out over sprawling grounds including tiered lawns, a lake and arboretum.
But living in such luxurious surroundings comes at a price and the family have had to sacrifice their privacy to pay the bills. The house and gardens are open for tours, meaning the family have to deal with tourists traipsing through their home.
‘The funding Curraghmore requires is just enormous. You almost have to pay to breathe here,’ Camilla explained.
‘I always try to support my parents and what they do. It’s a big task and people don’t necessarily understand how difficult the house is to maintain. And what’s so unusual is that we actually live here.’
She added: ‘There are days when you just want a bit of peace and privacy, so the tours can be difficult, but you’ve got to understand that it’s a business as well.’
The stylist, pictured at home, was 19 when her parents took up residence in the 855-year-old stately pile, which is one of Ireland’s oldest residencess and the home of the Marquess of Waterford and his ancestors since the 12th century
Camilla, who spends most of her time at her place in Fulham, south-west London, but returns to Curraghmore for regular visits, told how she was once watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians in one of the only rooms with Wifi when a tour group walked through the door.
‘I was so embarrassed,’ she admitted.
Lady Camilla is eager to dispel the misconception that she spends her day swanning about while racking up a bill on her father’s credit card.
‘There’s always an assumption with children of people like my father that you are just given everything. I do want to make it clear that it’s not the case with me. I provide for myself. My parents brought me up to understand that.’
Lady Camilla studied fashion design at Bath Spa University, paying her way with a part-time job at Jigsaw and shifts behind the bar at a catering firm.
Stint on reality TV: Lady Camilla, pictured right of centre, appeared on the failed MTV reality show The Royal World. She said it led to her being visciously trolled on social media
Lady Camilla, pictured at the Royal Windsor Cup Final last year, studied fashion design at Bath Spa University, paying her way with a part-time job at Jigsaw and shifts behind the bar at a catering firm
While there she founded an eponymous clothing brand which was enjoying some success when she was asked to take part in six-part Made In Chelsea-style MTV reality series called The Royal World.
The show, which featured a group of well-heeled aristos and royal-adjascent figures, was cancelled after one series but it was enough time for Lady Camilla to feel the sting of negative public perception and become the victim of viscious trolling.
‘You’re basically told what to say. You get poached by people who, unfortunately, don’t have the right values and you’re thrown into all of this negativity. You’re totally framed in a different way.’
The Marquess and the Marchioness are busy trying to maintain the house.
The top floor, including Camilla’s bedroom, is undergoing renovations and the roof needs a complete refit.
To bring in some much needed money, the family are turning some of the outbuildings into pretty holiday rentals and the estate’s tea rooms are open to the public.
Later this month Curraghmore will also host the All Together Now music festival, headlined by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, which is expected to attract 20,000 visitors.
Lady Camilla added of the work: ‘It’s about maintaining the house so it doesn’t go to ruin. We’ve got to keep it alive for another 100 years!’
The August issue of Tatler is on newsstands now
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