Linlithgow Palace is fit for fashion royalty with new gazebos

A-list celebs could be wowed by a restored wine fountain amid a series of luxury circus-like gazebos which have been erected at the historic ruins.

A dramatic staircase rising up to the palace’s original main doorway, once accessed by a drawbridge, is expected to be the red carpet entrance for big-name invited guests at Tuesday night’s extravaganza.

Underfloor heating installed for the pavilions will keep attendees warm, while a separate marquee is also being built.

The Metiers d’Art show, which has been clouded in secrecy since being announced by the French fashion house, is the brainchild of Chanel’s German creative director, Karl Lagerfeld.

Linlithgow Civic Trust chairman John Aitken, who walked around the palace’s grounds yesterday, predicted guests would be stunned by the show’s backdrop.

He said: “The palace is a courtyard building, so it’s four sets of rooms – north, south, east and west – round about a courtyard and the courtyard has at the centre of it a  fountain.

“It’s a beautiful fountain made by King James V, I think. That was restored by Historic Scotland just fairly recently.

“It’s in absolutely pristine condition and it has been known to run with various  liquids.

“It was obviously designed to run with water, but when Bonnie Prince Charlie was here in 1745 I believe they ran it with wine – I suspect they’ll make something of the fountain and the area around it.

“If you think about the four walls of that courtyard, the new entrance is on the south side and isn’t particularly spectacular, but the old traditional entrance to the palace is on the east side and it is quite a magnificent entrance.

“It used to have a drawbridge and it used to have flying buttresses.

“I suspect that they’re going to use it to link the pavilion and the  palace.”

About 490 guests on the exclusive guest list will arrive by limousine, with Hollywood glamour couple Pitt, 48, and Jolie, 37, rumoured to be attending.

Access to a pathway circling the palace’s loch will remain open until Monday despite high security, allowing locals a sneak peak of the glamour.

Linlithgow Business Association chairman David Tait said he believed the fashion show would get the evening under way from 6pm, with guests later moving to the gazebos for dinner.

But he predicted rumours that a giant glass cube had been erected inside the roofless palace to cover guests were off the mark.

Up to 200 contractors have been working on-site in preparation.

Local resident and mum-of-two Erica King said large numbers of security staff blocking entrance to the palace were a “friendly bunch”.

She said: “When I’ve walked past they all seem like they’re chatting with people and explaining what’s going on.”