Mansion which hosted King Charles’ investiture ball as Prince of Wales is now hashish manufacturing facility
The historic mansion which hosted King Charles‘ investiture ball as Prince of Wales has been raided by police who found a cannabis factory inside.
North Wales Police arrived at the historic Plas Glynllifon on Tuesday, which was formerly owned by Lord Newborough, following a suspicion drugs were being grown at the Grade I listed manor house.
The force said that officers will remain at the 100-room house near Caernarfon, Gwynedd, for several days as they continue to investigate.
Officers uncovered cannabis plants on the top floor of the building, with 12 rooms being used for the operation, the force added.
The empty building – which hosted the investiture ball following Charles’ ceremony at Caernarfon Castle in 1969 – was put on the market for £2million in 2024 but is understood to have recently been taken off the market.
Superintendent Arwel Hughes said: ‘We uncovered a grow, which was on the top floor of the building.
‘We estimate around 12 rooms with grows in them and they were fairly mature plants.
‘There’s lots of information to process today and lots of forensic work to consider, and lots of other digital matter that we are looking at.
North Wales Police arrived at the historic Plas Glynllifon (pictured), which hosted King Charles’ investiture ball as Prince of Wales, following a suspicion that cannabis was being grown at the Grade I listed manor house
The force said that officers will remain at the 100-room house near Caernarfon, Gwynedd, for several days as they continue to investigate. Pictured: Inside the historic Plas Glynllifon
Officers uncovered cannabis plants on the top floor of the building with 12 rooms being used for the operation, the force said. Pictured: the historic Plas Glynllifon
Then-Prince Charles with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (right) during his Investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd, Wales
‘I’m quite confident we can get to a point where we can make some arrests.
‘Clearly, the electrics are being manipulated and lots of water supply being diverted inside and the property itself is in various states of disrepair.’
The force said that no arrests had been made.
Built in 1830, the manor house previously operated as a wedding venue and was later bought with plans to transform it into a luxury hotel.
The mansion was sold in 2020 after going into receivership following a failed attempt to turn it into a luxury hotel.
It was then bought by a Manchester-based developer whose companies also bought Seiont Manor hotel in Llanrug.
However, it was put back on the market in 2024 by the developers for £2m, but it is believed to have recently been taken off the market.
The surrounding park is still open to visitors as an attraction, with tickets costing £6 for an adult and £4 for a child.
The manor house’s website says: ‘The Plas, or manor house, and its 16 acres of gardens are privately owned and sit within the expansive Parc Glynllifon grounds.
‘As you explore the park you’ll see the Plas from multiple angles but perhaps our favourite is from the water fountain where you can enjoy a picnic on the lawns that stretch all the way from the cascading waterfalls to the house itself.’
