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Princess Mary's Faberge Owl collection. Three owls, the first perched on a branch, then a grey and a dark brown owl
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Back to 1986: Harewood House Trust Celebrates 40 Years and Leeds 400

Back to 1986: Harewood House Trust Celebrates 40 Years with Tickets from Just £1.50

2026 marks 40 years since Harewood House Trust, and is also the year Leeds City celebrates being 400. 

Harewood House Trust was established with a simple but enduring ambition: to protect, preserve and share Harewood House, its collections, Gardens and Grounds for generations to come.

From landmark exhibitions and unforgettable events to protecting the past while creating new ways for communities to connect with Harewood, the Trust has spent four decades shaping Harewood’s future while celebrating its extraordinary past. On 16, 17 and 18 October, Harewood will mark this milestone with a special anniversary weekend, inviting visitors to look back at some of the Trust’s most memorable exhibitions, events and achievements, while discovering what lies ahead for Harewood.

In a nod to the year the Trust was founded, 400 tickets for 17 and 18 October will be available at 1986 prices, with bookings opening on 14 September. Tickets will cost just £3.50 for adults and £1.50 for children.

Across the weekend we are thrilled to be hosting special activities for families to enjoy and hosting our daily talks which reflect some of the items which have been added to Harewood’s collection over the last 40 years!

We are also thrilled to be joining the celebration of Leeds 400, and showcasing Princess Mary’s stunning Owl collection.

Princess Mary adored owls and collected a great number throughout her life. Her collection adorned her private rooms and owls were often given to Princess Mary as gifts by friends and family.

The City of Leeds’ emblem is also that of an owl, a happy coincidence for a princess who once said of Yorkshire: “If I could choose anywhere in the world to live it would be here, the best place”.

To celebrate Leeds 400 and Harewood 40, Princess Mary’s most treasured owls will go on display in the Yellow Drawing Room, seen together for the first time for over a decade.

Made by Royal jewellers Fabergé and Cartier, each model is carefully observed and intricately carved in precious hardstones. Princess Mary’s owls demonstrate the exceptional craftship associated with the two firms and represent the rich tradition of royal collecting that Princess Mary was a part of.

Princess Mary's Faberge Owl collection. Three owls, the first perched on a branch, then a grey and a dark brown owl
Princess Mary's Faberge Owl collection - on display together for the first time in a decade

Across the weekend Harewood will host series of exclusive events. The first of which is in Conversation with David Lascelles, 16 October, The Gallery

£20 per person

Join David Lascelles, 8th Earl of Harewood, for a special In Conversation event as he discusses his new book, Out of Colditz. Set against the final days of the Second World War, the book explores the remarkable story of Gottlob Berger, a senior Nazi figure who played an unexpected role in saving the life of David’s father, George Lascelles, then heir to the Harewood title. Drawing on family archives and historical research, David reflects on memory, history and the challenges of understanding the past, uncovering a little-known chapter in Harewood’s family story.

 

Find out more here

David Lascelles, The 8th Earl of Harewood sits in a window seat in his private apartment inside Harewood House.
David Lascelles, The 8th Earl of Harewood

Memories and Reflections from Harewoods Last Butler

17 + 18 October, 10.30 + 1pm, Harewood’s Private apartments,  Tickets for this are £15 per person (you must also hold a valid day ticket or membership for Harewood to attend)

Molly Kelly has been part of Harewood’s story for more than 36 years, including 25 years working closely with the Lascelles family. Becoming Under Butler in 2001 and Butler in 2006, Molly was one of the few women to hold the position at the time. Based in the private apartments, she cared for the 7th Earl and Countess of Harewood, developing an unparalleled knowledge of the House, its collections and traditions. Join Molly during Harewood 40 for a special private apartment tour and a rare opportunity to explore these spaces with someone who has cared for them for decades.

 

Find out more here 

A Garden’s Journey: Looking back, Growing Forward, 17 + 18 October, 12pm,  The Terrace

Tickets are £15 per person (you must also hold a valid day ticket or membership for Harewood to attend)

Having cared for Harewood’s gardens for more than 30 years, award-winning Head Gardener Trevor Nicholson is uniquely placed to share their stories. Join Trevor for a fascinating guided walk through the Terrace, West Garden, Pleasure Grounds and South Garden, exploring the evolution of Harewood’s landscape and plans for the future. From the reopening of the Walled Garden to the redevelopment of the Himalayan Garden, Trevor has witnessed and shaped remarkable changes across three decades. Discover his contribution to the gardens, from planting 40,000 bulbs to introducing no-dig methods in the Walled Garden.

Whether you’re a keen gardener or simply love Harewood’s landscape, this is a walk not to be missed.

Find out more here

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