The little village of Great Malvern was overwhelmed with aristocrats with the arrival of the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough and the dowager Lady Ellenborough, who came to see their royal friends. At the beginning of September 1830 Prince and Princess Esterhazy arrived and took over the Mount Pleasant from, its proprietor, Mr Beard.

In September1843 the Dowager Queen Adelaide and her sister in law, Queen Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent (d.1861) came to Malvern. Flags were raised on the church, bells pealed and cannons roared throughout the day and banners fluttered from the hotels and prominent houses. Almost every house was decorated with crowns, wreaths and floral decorations. The large party of aristocracy arrived at the Mount Pleasant, an elegant mansion on the south end of Belle Vue Terrace, which had been decorated for their reception by Mr Edward Archer of the Foley Arms Hotel. After lunch, with crowds of people and musicians lining their route, the entire party rode to the top of the hills, all on donkeys except the Duchess of Kent who took a small open carriage. 'The weather being exceedingly fine, the beauty of the scenery can scarcely be overated, wrote one reporter. At about 4- o'clock the party descended the hills to take tea at Mount Pleasant before returning to Great Witley at 5 o'clock.

By the1860's Mount Pleasant was a thriving hotel and during the season provided accommodation for many distinguished people, both English and abroad