King Charles III ascended to the throne on Thursday, September 8th, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. As the world mourns Her Majesty, the new King has returned to London to carry out official duties – most recently in the Houses of Parliament – where he addressed British lawmakers for the first time as monarch.
However, while King Charles is fulfilling jobs in the capital, his official residence sits 89 miles west of London, in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, South West England.
Highgrove House, the family estate residence of Charles III and Camilla, the Queen's consort, is among the most famous royal residences, but the estate is more than a home.
The property, which was built in the late 18th century, had various owners before the Duchy of Cornwall purchased the land in 1980. King Charles then renovated the estate into one of the world's best homes – before developing one of the most famous eco-friendly gardens in the country.
King Charles III in Highgrove Gardens
The King is admired for his dedication to sustainability, and Highgrove's gardens epitomize these beliefs. Its gardens, which attract more than 30,000 visitors a year, offer a lesson in sustainable garden ideas – featuring a host of rare heirloom seeds, flowers, and trees that were designed to invite wildlife into the space.
Above all, the wild gardens act as a sustainable habitat for wildlife, but they are also used to benefit the royal family, too. In a recent interview with H&G's sister magazine Country Life (opens in new tab), the now Queen's consort, Camilla, shared how she and King enjoyed gardening's therapeutic qualities – whether that is through planting, weeding, or just being creative. 'It’s just one of the most relaxing things anyone can do. Go into the garden, get on with it,' she says.
The sustainable garden at Highgrove House
Inside Highgrove's four walls, the King often holds charity events, where guests are surrounded by interiors by London-based designer Robert Kime (opens in new tab).
Robert, who also decorated rooms at Clarence House (the royal residence on The Mall in London), was a fitting choice for the King's country retreat. His spaces often played with eclectic antiques, textiles, and ornate decorating ideas to create a comfortable space that paid homage to the homeowner, in this case, King Charles.
Meanwhile, Highgrove's kitchen is likely to be influenced, and run, by the house's surroundings. We expect it will include including produce from the King's kitchen garden ideas while fueled by energy from the estate's solar panels, which is another sustainable feature installed by the royal couple.
The façade of Highgrove House
According to the Duchy of Cornwall (opens in new tab), Highgrove offers an 'ethically and environmentally conscious approach' throughout the home and its gardens. The King uses energy-saving bulbs and solar lights (where appropriate), and all kitchen waste passes through a composting system that can be used to benefit the garden and the surrounding Duchy Home Farm.
You can visit Highgrove (opens in new tab) at Doughton, Tetbury GL8 8TN, England.
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