Highgrove Gardens—Prince Charles takes a tour of his favorite country estate ahead of the annual opening

Prince Charles welcomed lucky visitors to Highgrove Gardens, his country estate near the Cotswolds, ahead of its seasonal opening to the general public.

• Prince Charles took a group of visitors around Highgrove Gardens this weekend, proudly showing off the gardens he has worked so hard at for nearly four decades
• Charles arrived at Highgrove in 1980 and has worked hard to make them a must-see destination
• In other royal news, the unique trait Sophie Wessex shares with Meghan Markle—and only 1% of people have it
  

Prince Charles, a notoriously green-fingered enthusiast, took a group of tour guides on a walk through one of his pride and joys, the resplendent gardens at his country estate, Highgrove.

Wearing a red-patterned tie and white shirt beneath a green coat, Charles spoke about his favorite flowers and trees, and the reasons for including them in the garden’s collection this season.

Where are Highgrove Gardens?

Highgrove is the private residence of Charles and Camilla, near Tetbury in Gloucestershire.

Since 1980 when the Prince of Wales first arrived at Highgrove, His Royal Highness has devoted much energy to transforming the gardens around the house, which are renowned as some of the most inspiring and innovative in the United Kingdom.

Charles introduced organic farming on the grounds and by 1994, the estate had gained full organic status.

More than 60 garden guides are employed at the estate by The Prince’s Foundation, and many joined Charles for an induction ahead of the 2022 tours season.

Can you visit Highgrove Gardens?

You can visit the gardens, though Highgrove House remains off limits.

The Royal Gardens at Highgrove are open for tours, including group garden tours and champagne and tea tours.

You can also enjoy a Highgrove cream tea in the opulent Orchard Tea Room and browse the Estate Shop for a range of artisan goodies, such as chutneys and ports.

All profits from the tasty produce on sale, garden tours and events are donated to the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund, which supports mental and physical health activities, the arts and the environment.

What to see at Highgrove Gardens

Being a garden, there’s always new blooms and plenty to see depending on the season, but a highlight at Highgrove is the colorful four acre Wildflower Meadow, which features endangered native plants like the spotted orchid.

There’s also the Kitchen Garden, home to a bounty of growing fruits, the Carpet Garden which is replete with scented flowers and the Lily Pool Garden provides water for visiting birds to drink and bathe in, all year round.

Another highlight is the Arboretum, where varieties of beech, acer and cherry trees grow, as well as magnolias, thought to be a favorite flower of the Prince of Wales.