King Charles’ former gardener has lifted the lid on the secret tribute the monarch paid to his late mother Queen Elizabeth within Balmoral’s new gardens.
It comes as the gardens enter their final couple of weeks of being open to the public ahead of the King and Queen’s summer in Scotland.
Located in Aberdeenshire, Balmoral has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852.
A beloved spot by the Queen – who passed away in 2022 – it’s also a place King Charles spent much of his childhood.
The grounds have been open to the public since last year but the castle gardens have been newly renovated with a Thistle maze, the Celtic maze garden, as well as a generous array of topiary, trees and shrubbery.
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And Jack Stooks, who worked as a senior gardener at Highgrove for King Charles for over two decades, has revealed why the designs have such a personal touch.
He said: “Mazes are very special to Charles as he used to love playing in the maze at Sandringham when he was young. His grandmother, the late Queen Mother, used to speak fondly about her memories of him in the maze and how much he loved the topiary. It’s likely Charles wanted to bring some of the nostalgia of his childhood back to the Balmoral gardens and make it a place of fun and excitement for future generations. Balmoral was also a very special residence for the Queen, so Charles will want others to enjoy a place that was so special for his mother. It’s like a tribute to her.
“Charles has an amazing work ethic and he’s very hands on. I remember doing some topiary pieces for him in Scotland with two yew trees that resided in the vegetable garden. I did a drawing and suggested finishing the top with the Prince of Wales feathers. The drawing came back with a handwritten note from Charles that praised the design but suggested swapping the feathers for a cone. He takes the time to consider these things, and it helps that he has a love for gardening and greenery.
“Now Balmoral is open to the public, Charles wants to make the grounds as inviting as possible for everyone. He wants to make it a place that’s exciting for future generations too. The grounds are quite bare as it’s cold for much of the year, but the topiary in the mazes have an evergreen appeal. Plus, they’ve included thistle within the topiary as a proud nod to Scotland. Despite being English, Charles knows how important it is to pay tribute to Balmoral’s rich history in the Highlands.”