King Charles III is a green-fingered fan and very much enjoys gardening at his beautiful countryside estate in Gloucestershire, Highgrove House. But, of course, he also has a team of gardeners to help with the upkeep. Jack Stooks, who spent over 20 years as the Senior Gardener at Highgrove, shared insider secrets when appearing on ITV's This Morning.
When Jack was asked by presenter Ben Shephard, "What kind of houseplants does the King like?" he revealed scented geraniums and pelargoniums were key choices during his time there. During the chat, the royal gardener also explained the process when the monarch would come to stay at his country house.
"When he wasn't there, they were in the glasshouse, and then when he was there, they would get taken back up to the house."
"When he wasn't there, they were in the glasshouse, and then when he was there, they would get taken back up to the house. We cared for them when they were out of the house, and then once they went in, the housekeepers had the joy of looking after them in there."
Relocating the plants to the greenhouse would likely be so that the garden team could look after them easily, all in one place, rather than dotted around the nine-bedroom home.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesAward-winning garden
The King has owned Highgrove since 1980 and regularly escapes to his countryside abode with his wife, Queen Camilla. The grounds are extra special to Charles, and they contain a series of individual 'outdoor rooms' that are open to the public each summer. Among these is the Carpet Garden, which won a silver-gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show back in 2001, was based on a sketch that King Charles had drawn, inspired by a Turkish carpet he had inside his home.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetCharles' eco passion
His Majesty is a long-standing champion for the environment and his recent eco documentary, Finding Harmony: A King's Vision, has highlighted his unwavering dedication.
© Finding Harmony: A King's VisionWhat the King has said about the show: "This film will, I hope, demonstrate just some of the remarkable work being done around the world to put Harmony into practice, from the forests of Guyana to sustainable communities in India – and, closer to home, through the work of my King's Foundation at Dumfries House and Highgrove. Never has it been more important for the world to make a concerted effort to protect and prioritise our planet, and to restore our relationship with it.
"It is therefore my fondest hope that this film may encourage a new audience to learn about the philosophy of Harmony - and perhaps inspire the same sense of determination it has given me to help build a more sustainable future."
