EXCLUSIVE: Alan Titchmarsh has apologised in response to a claim made by King Charles’ gardener, after opening up about a recent change in his family life
Samantha Masters Content Editor
08:00, 21 Sep 2025
Alan Titchmarsh has responded to Jack Stook’s claim
Jack Stooks, who served as a gardener for King Charles at Highgrove House for over two decades, said he didn’t receive a reply from Alan Titchmarsh when he reached out to him. During a trip to Scotland with the royal’s former butler Grant Harold, Jack said he discovered a book from Alan and his wife Alison’s personal library in a charity shop.
Surprised by the finding, Jack claimed he contacted the former Ground Force presenter, who he had met during his time working for Charles, but received no response.
He shared: “Weirdly, we were in Scotland once, I was in Scotland with Grant and there was a charity shop I was in, and I got a book out and I opened it, and in it was a library sticker and it said, ‘From the personal library of Alan and Alison Titchmarsh’.
“And I was like, ‘This is amazing, this has actually come out of their house’, so I wrote [to him] and said, ‘I’ve found this book’, and [I] never heard back.
“I thought he’d be like, ‘Oh my God that’s amazing, we have never had it back’, but [I] never heard back,” reports Wales Online.
Alan Titchmarsh with King Charles III during a charity event in Scotland(Image: Jane Barlow – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Speaking at the launch of Grant’s Royal Butler book, he added: “I don’t know [if he received the message] but I’ve still got it at home, I must look for it actually.”
When questioned about the situation, Alan apologised and stated that he was unaware of Jack’s message, but hoped he enjoyed the book.
The gardener’s library is reportedly situated in the beautiful Manor Farm House in Hampshire, which he shares with his long-term wife Alison.
Earlier this month, he disclosed that they had chosen to put their nine-bedroom property up for sale in order to downsize after many joyful years there.
In a conversation with Country Life Magazine, Alan stated that one of the motivations for the sale, which is currently at a guide price of £3.95 million, is to be closer to their daughters and grandchildren.
Jack Stooks worked at Highgrove Gardens for over two decades (Image: Instagram)
Alan’s latest endeavour follows his decision to reduce his working days to prioritise his family.
The gardener now takes Fridays off, and occasionally Mondays as well, but is eager to continue working for as long as he can.
In an interview with Woman’s Weekly magazine, he said of cutting back his hours: “It’s the old cliché, but you can’t get it back”, referring to the invaluable time spent with family.
“My oldest grandchild has just turned 13 and you think, ‘Oh crumbs! I’ve got a teenager as a grandchild now’.”
Despite reducing his hours, Alan’s schedule remains busy with ongoing projects including his Gardening Club series and Love Your Weekend on ITV.
In April, he also launched his new YouTube channel, Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh where he provides practical tips, step-by-step guides, and plenty of advice to fellow gardening enthusiasts.
Love Your Weekend With Alan Titchmarsh continues today at 9.30am on ITV and ITVX.
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