We’re thrilled to welcome Caroline Jane Knight, Jane Austen’s fifth great niece, to our immersive Regency experience celebrating the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth. Caroline grew up at Chawton House, Jane’s ancestral home, and brings a rare authenticity to the event. She is the author of Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage, host of My Austen Heritage, and leads the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation and The Austen Pathway.
A Regency Tea
As part of our immersive Regency experience weekend, we are honoured to present A Regency Tea with Caroline Jane Knight, a truly special gathering hosted by Jane Austen’s fifth great niece. Set within an authentically styled Regency setting, this two-hour event invites guests to enjoy tea and conversation in the company of Caroline, who will appear in character to share reflections and stories inspired by her family heritage and Jane Austen’s enduring world.
Midway through the tea, Caroline will step out of character briefly to offer a short talk (15–20 minutes) about her real-life charitable work, including the inspiring initiatives of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation, which she founded to support literacy across the globe. This unique blend of period charm and contemporary purpose offers guests an unforgettable opportunity to connect with both the past and present legacy of Jane Austen.
Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage
Caroline’s memoir, Jane & Me: My Austen Heritage, will be available to pre-order ahead of the weekend and collected at the tea. Guests will also have the opportunity to have their copy personally signed by Caroline during the event.
About Caroline
Caroline Jane Knight is a direct descendant of Jane Austen’s brother, Edward Knight, and the last of Jane’s nieces to grow up at Chawton House—the ancestral home where Jane lived and wrote many of her most beloved works. Caroline walked the same grounds, dined in the same rooms, and shared Jane’s dream of independence.
Her early years were filled with the charm of manor life—family gatherings, country traditions, and helping her grandmother serve tea to Austen fans in the Chawton House tea room. But at seventeen, Caroline’s family had to leave their ancestral home. Though she tried to leave her Austen roots behind, she built a successful business career before ultimately reconnecting with her heritage and founding the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation.