The Balmoral estate has been a beloved Scottish residence of the Royal Family since Queen Victoria, and it's the place where Queen Elizabeth chose to live out her final days. While Balmoral filled a huge part of the late monarch's heart, it's also dear to King Charles. Now that the castle is open for its busy spring/summer season, King Charles's former gardener has shared some sweet details about the secret tribute the monarch is paying to his family within the estate's new gardens.
King Charles opened Balmoral to the public last year, and its castle gardens have been newly renovated with a thistle maze and a stunning Celtic maze garden, as well as a new topiaries, trees and shrubbery. Speaking on behalf of Slingo, Jack Stooks—who worked as a senior gardener at The King's Gloucestershire retreat, Highgrove House, for more than 20 years—revealed why the designs have such a personal meaning to the monarch.
"Mazes are very special to Charles as he used to love playing in the maze at Sandringham when he was young," Stooks shared. "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."
The former royal gardener continued, "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.”
Stooks continued that King Charles was highly involved in the planning for Balmoral's new gardens. "Charles has an amazing work ethic and he’s very hands on," he shared. The gardener recalled a time when he created "some topiary pieces" for The King in Scotland, noting that he "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," Stooks said. "He takes the time to consider these things, and it helps that he has a love for gardening and greenery.”
Now that The King has opened Balmoral's doors to the public for a limited period each year, Stooks said that the monarch "wants to make the grounds as inviting as possible for everyone." Due to Scotland's cold climate, he explained that the grounds "are quite bare" at times, but added "the topiary in the mazes have an evergreen appeal."
Stooks also praised how The King made sure to include Scotland's national flower, thistle, within Balmoral's topiary. "Despite being English, Charles knows how important it is to pay tribute to Balmoral’s rich history in the Highlands," he added.
Want to check out the gardens for yourself? Balmoral opened to the public on Tuesday, April 1, and will welcome visitors seven days a week through Sunday, August 10.
