Latest news with #HighgroveGardens
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
King Charles Is Frustrated With Staff ‘Unable to Fulfill' Demands Amid Reports He's ‘Reevaluating' His ‘Mortality'
King Charles' has been at the center of a lot of conflicting reports for what feels like over a year. The British monarch, who took over the throne of England from his mother, Queen Elizabeth, has had to contend with cancer and reports of a feud with his youngest son, Harry. And people are interested in both those things, as well as how the British monarchy will continue after King Charles. But there are also the daily things, and one that is getting attention is the King's Highgrove Gardens. Or, at least, the staff that takes care of it. An investigation by the Sunday Times claims that the gardening staff at King Charles' Gloucestershire home, Highgrove House, has seen quite a bit of turnout and face a very toxic workplace. More from StyleCaster King Charles Is Reportedly Still 'Wary' of Harry As William Thinks His Brother's Reconciliation Efforts Are a 'Big Mistake' Inside Harry's 'Desperate' Attempts to Reconcile With the Royal Family Amid Reports He's Worried William Will 'Literally Banish' Him Once He's King Related: Here's what each royal inherited from Queen Elizabeth The outlet claims that of the 12 full-time gardening staff who were employed there in 2022, 11 have since resigned and been replaced. The gardens have been widely celebrated for their 'wild' aesthetic and are considered proof of King Charles' passion for the environment. They are visited by over 40,000 people each year. And the problem seems to be King Charles himself. According to the outlet, former staff describe him as 'intensely demanding,' remarking on how he often involves himself in minute horticultural details and sends critical notes written in thick red ink. Of one gardener who made a mistake, the King reportedly said, 'Do not put that man in front of me again.' But that's not all, staffers claim to be 'overwhelmed and underpaid,' which leave them 'unable to fulfill' the King's often unreasonable demands. A former employee even submitted a formal complaint that stated: 'There is little management of His Majesty the King's expectations, and I know I would not be allowed to say we are understaffed.' These claims come after British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital about the King's everyday life with his disease. 'King Charles is living with cancer, which makes his family situation very sad,' Chard said about his feud with his son, Harry. 'I'm sure he is thinking about his mortality and reevaluating his life. He would not want a family feud tarnishing his positive contributions and memory. I'm sure he will also want to clear up unresolved issues or surprises that could lead to further resentment and conflict between his two sons.' Such reports are directly related to the fact that there was a recent meeting between King Charles' aides and Prince Harry's, which hints at a possible attempt at reconciliation. There was also a recent report from The Telegraph that indicates that the King has factored not only Prince Harry but Meghan Markle but also their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, into the heart of his funeral plans. This despite the fact that the King and Prince Harry are said to not be on speaking terms right now. After the latest reports about Highgrove Gardens, it's obvious the staff there would appreciate it if the King could also reevaluate the demands he makes of them. Best of StyleCaster The 26 Best Romantic Comedies to Watch if You Want to Know What Love Feels Like These 'Bachelor' Secrets & Rules Prove What Happens Behind the Scenes Is So Much Juicier BTS's 7 Members Were Discovered in the Most Unconventional Ways Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Gardeners quitting King's Highgrove amid demands
Gardeners are leaving their jobs at the King's Highgrove Gardens amid low pay and Charles's demands, according to a report. The King oversees the gardens at his Gloucestershire retreat, which he has transformed and nurtured over the past 45 years, and, according to The Sunday Times, has lost 11 of 12 gardeners since 2022. The newspaper reported that Charles visits the gardens regularly and, after walking the series of interlinked gardens, sends notes to garden staff who are expected to act on his requests before his next visit. According to the report, the King asked that staff move a single ragwort from the perimeter of his swimming pool, and said gardeners' failure to cultivate his delphiniums had caused him great disappointment. The newspaper said staff have complained of poor conditions, including pay as low as minimum wage. It has been reported that Charles knew of staff shortages at Highgrove, and after the invasion of Ukraine wrote a note proposing war refugees could be recruited to help. Near the Cotswolds town of Tetbury, the nine-bedroom house and estate was set to become William's when the King acceded to the throne in September 2022 as it is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. But Charles now rents the house from the Duchy, for a reported £340,000-a-year, and continues to use it as a country residence, where he spends time with the Queen and he rested there after time in hospital for side effects of his cancer treatment earlier this year. The Sunday Times reported that of the 11 gardeners who have left, two were heads of gardens and one had served the King for many years. Another failed his probation after it emerged he had a lack of knowledge about a particular flower, the newspaper said. The King reportedly said of him 'don't put that man in front of me again'. Charles's charity The King's Foundation, which is the custodian of Highgrove Gardens, runs education workshops on site for traditional and endangered crafts such as millinery, embroidery and woodworking. It also oversees public access to Highgrove through its ticketed garden tours, which attract more than 40,000 visitors every year. The Sunday Times reported that in late 2023 one member of staff at Highgrove complained about the gardens' management, saying the team was overwhelmed, under-resourced and struggling to fulfil the King's requests. In turn, The King's Foundation commissioned an external investigation and, according to the report, it found evidence of 'staff shortages' and 'poor' management practices and said that remuneration was an 'issue for recruitment and retention'. It recommended 'management training for all managers', 'mental health support and counselling' and a pay review, the Sunday Times said. Staff at the gardens have received pay rises each year since 2022 totalling between 15% and 19% cumulatively, it is understood. The newspaper also reported that in August 2023, a senior gardener complained that he was 'shouted at' by Constantine Innemee, then the Highgrove director for The King's Foundation. According to the Sunday Times, The King's Foundation requested an investigation and did not uphold the complaint about Mr Innemee. A King's Foundation spokeswoman said: 'At The King's Foundation, we take staff welfare extremely seriously and strive to be an exemplary employer. We are proud to regularly report very high satisfaction rates in our annual staff survey. 'Our staff turnover is well below the national average, as is the number of formal grievances raised. For the gardening team at Highgrove specifically, we regularly review guidance from the Professional Gardeners Guild for pay benchmarking. 'Highgrove has also seen many positive developments since The King's Foundation became the charitable custodian of the gardens. Since 2022, the operating profit has more than doubled, a new education facility teaching traditional heritage skills to hundreds of students has been established, and visitor numbers continue to reach over 40,000 annually.'
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Gardeners quitting King Charles' Highgrove amid demands
Gardeners are leaving their jobs at Highgrove Gardens, owned by Britain's King Charles, amid low pay and Charles' demands, according to a report. Chalres oversees the gardens at his Gloucestershire retreat, which he has transformed and nurtured over the past 45 years, and, according to The Sunday Times, has lost 11 of 12 gardeners since 2022. Advertisement The newspaper reported that Charles visits the gardens regularly and, after walking the series of interlinked gardens, sends notes to garden staff who are expected to act on his requests before his next visit. King Charles with the prime minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape at Highgrove House earlier this month (Ben Birchall/PA) According to the report, Charles asked that staff move a single ragwort from the perimeter of his swimming pool, and said gardeners' failure to cultivate his delphiniums had caused him great disappointment. The newspaper said staff have complained of poor conditions, including pay as low as minimum wage. It has been reported that Charles knew of staff shortages at Highgrove, and after the invasion of Ukraine wrote a note proposing war refugees could be recruited to help. Advertisement Near the Cotswolds town of Tetbury, the nine-bedroom house and estate was set to become William's when Charles acceded to the throne in September 2022 as it is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. But Charles now rents the house from the Duchy, for a reported £340,000-a-year, and continues to use it as a country residence, where he spends time with Queen Camilla and he rested there after time in hospital for side effects of his cancer treatment earlier this year. The Sunday Times reported that of the 11 gardeners who have left, two were heads of gardens and one had served Charles for many years. Another failed his probation after it emerged he had a lack of knowledge about a particular flower, the newspaper said. Advertisement Charles reportedly said of him 'don't put that man in front of me again'. Charles' charity The King's Foundation, which is the custodian of Highgrove Gardens, runs education workshops on site for traditional and endangered crafts such as millinery, embroidery and woodworking. It also oversees public access to Highgrove through its ticketed garden tours, which attract more than 40,000 visitors every year. The Sunday Times reported that in late 2023 one member of staff at Highgrove complained about the gardens' management, saying the team was overwhelmed, under-resourced and struggling to fulfil the Charles' requests. Advertisement Charles at Highgrove with Constantine Innemee, David Beckham and Victoria Beckham (Finnbar Webster/PA) In turn, The King's Foundation commissioned an external investigation and, according to the report, it found evidence of 'staff shortages' and 'poor' management practices and said that remuneration was an 'issue for recruitment and retention'. It recommended 'management training for all managers', 'mental health support and counselling' and a pay review, The Sunday Times said. Staff at the gardens have received pay rises each year since 2022 totalling between 15 per cent and 19 per cent cumulatively, it is understood. The newspaper also reported that in August 2023, a senior gardener complained that he was 'shouted at' by Constantine Innemee, then the Highgrove director for The King's Foundation. Advertisement According to The Sunday Times, The King's Foundation requested an investigation and did not uphold the complaint about Mr Innemee. A King's Foundation spokeswoman said: 'At The King's Foundation, we take staff welfare extremely seriously and strive to be an exemplary employer. We are proud to regularly report very high satisfaction rates in our annual staff survey. 'Our staff turnover is well below the national average, as is the number of formal grievances raised. For the gardening team at Highgrove specifically, we regularly review guidance from the Professional Gardeners Guild for pay benchmarking. 'Highgrove has also seen many positive developments since The King's Foundation became the charitable custodian of the gardens. Since 2022, the operating profit has more than doubled, a new education facility teaching traditional heritage skills to hundreds of students has been established, and visitor numbers continue to reach over 40,000 annually.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Gardeners quitting King's Highgrove amid demands
Gardeners are leaving their jobs at the King's Highgrove Gardens amid low pay and Charles's demands, according to a report. The King oversees the gardens at his Gloucestershire retreat, which he has transformed and nurtured over the past 45 years, and, according to The Sunday Times, has lost 11 of 12 gardeners since 2022. The newspaper reported that Charles visits the gardens regularly and, after walking the series of interlinked gardens, sends notes to garden staff who are expected to act on his requests before his next visit. According to the report, the King asked that staff move a single ragwort from the perimeter of his swimming pool, and said gardeners' failure to cultivate his delphiniums had caused him great disappointment. The newspaper said staff have complained of poor conditions, including pay as low as minimum wage. It has been reported that Charles knew of staff shortages at Highgrove, and after the invasion of Ukraine wrote a note proposing war refugees could be recruited to help. Near the Cotswolds town of Tetbury, the nine-bedroom house and estate was set to become William's when the King acceded to the throne in September 2022 as it is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. But Charles now rents the house from the Duchy, for a reported £340,000-a-year, and continues to use it as a country residence, where he spends time with the Queen and he rested there after time in hospital for side effects of his cancer treatment earlier this year. The Sunday Times reported that of the 11 gardeners who have left, two were heads of gardens and one had served the King for many years. Another failed his probation after it emerged he had a lack of knowledge about a particular flower, the newspaper said. The King reportedly said of him 'don't put that man in front of me again'. Charles's charity The King's Foundation, which is the custodian of Highgrove Gardens, runs education workshops on site for traditional and endangered crafts such as millinery, embroidery and woodworking. It also oversees public access to Highgrove through its ticketed garden tours, which attract more than 40,000 visitors every year. The Sunday Times reported that in late 2023 one member of staff at Highgrove complained about the gardens' management, saying the team was overwhelmed, under-resourced and struggling to fulfil the King's requests. In turn, The King's Foundation commissioned an external investigation and, according to the report, it found evidence of 'staff shortages' and 'poor' management practices and said that remuneration was an 'issue for recruitment and retention'. It recommended 'management training for all managers', 'mental health support and counselling' and a pay review, the Sunday Times said. Staff at the gardens have received pay rises each year since 2022 totalling between 15% and 19% cumulatively, it is understood. The newspaper also reported that in August 2023, a senior gardener complained that he was 'shouted at' by Constantine Innemee, then the Highgrove director for The King's Foundation. According to the Sunday Times, The King's Foundation requested an investigation and did not uphold the complaint about Mr Innemee. A King's Foundation spokeswoman said: 'At The King's Foundation, we take staff welfare extremely seriously and strive to be an exemplary employer. We are proud to regularly report very high satisfaction rates in our annual staff survey. 'Our staff turnover is well below the national average, as is the number of formal grievances raised. For the gardening team at Highgrove specifically, we regularly review guidance from the Professional Gardeners Guild for pay benchmarking. 'Highgrove has also seen many positive developments since The King's Foundation became the charitable custodian of the gardens. Since 2022, the operating profit has more than doubled, a new education facility teaching traditional heritage skills to hundreds of students has been established, and visitor numbers continue to reach over 40,000 annually.'
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
King Charles's Highgrove Gardens slashes price of their English Sparkling Rosé - with Meghan Markle's own wine launch just days away
It appears the royal battle of the wines is officially on as King Charles 's Highgrove Gardens has slashed the price of their Sparkling English Rosé - after Meghan Markle announced the launch of her own wine. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, announced last week that she would be releasing a Napa Valley rosé wine on July 1 - her first foray into the wine market. The product will be sourced from the famous region of California, up the west coast from her Montecito mansion. But Meghan may have been inspired by her father-in-law the King, who himself has a rosé under his Highgrove Gardens label. The King began selling products from the Duchy of Cornwall estate in the 1990s and his Sparkling English Rosé is believed to have first been given the monarch's label in 2010. This week, Highgrove Gardens announced a 15 per cent off deal when six or more bottles are purchased for English Wine Week - showing Meghan may have some competition for the title of best royal rosé. At £34.95, the pop is the first premium English fizz to carry the label of the King and is created at the Herbert Hall Winery exclusively for Highgrove, using English grapes. And royal fans were quick to note that the deal comes with Meghan's own launch just days away, writing 'Great job Highgrove!' and 'I see you!' Meghan Markle is set to launch her own wine in just a few days time - but she may have some royal competition. Pictured in her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan As of time of publication, King Charles's wine is currently out of stock, with the As Ever launch appearing to boost his sales. It's not the first time the royals have gone head to head over the supply of products. Meghan's raspberry spread - originally launched under As Ever's previous name, American Riviera Orchard - may have been inspired by one of the monarch's jams. In fact, King Charles's Highgrove Organic Strawberry Preserve saw a rise in sales after Meghan's launch after royalists flocked to buy the preserve. While profits from Meghan's business endeavours go to herself, any excess money made as part of the Highgrove brand is donated to charity, and 'enables the life and work of the King's Foundation'. The Duchess has not yet confirmed the price point of her own wine - which launches in just a few days' time on Princess Diana's birthday. Meghan's 2023 wine, which will be available to buy from July 1, has been described by her brand as having notes of 'soft notes of stone fruit, gentle minerality and a lasting finish' and a 'bespoke blend' which is 'launching just in time for summer entertaining'. It will be launched under her lifestyle brand, As Ever, which returned with its second drop last week. This week, Highgrove Gardens announced a 15 per cent off deal when six or more bottles are purchased for English Wine Week One of the other new products is a $28 (£21) 'limited edition' orange blossom honey which Meghan said had a 'beautiful golden hue, an enticing aroma, delicate floral notes and subtle citrus undertones' and would be 'a standout addition to your pantry'. The other new item is the apricot spread - one in keepsake packaging at $14 (£10) and the other just in a jar at $9 (£7). Meghan said this 'newest spread balances a delicate sweetness and a gentle brightness that lets this beautiful stone fruit shine'. The brand's description adds that the spread is 'made with gorgeous fruit and a touch of sweetness, letting the apricot's bright flavor shine' and that the 'smooth texture and gentle tartness pair beautifully with everything from toast to cheese boards'. The spread and the honey were both shown as having sold out within minutes. Announcing the items, Meghan said: 'We are pleased to share that many favourites from our debut As Ever collection are back – and, we've added something new. We hope you find some special treats that bring extra joy to you and your loved ones.' In April the Duchess released her first nine As Ever products including raspberry spread in keepsake packaging for $14 (£10) or a normal jar for $9 (£7), with the brand describing the collection as being 'infused with joy, love, and a touch of whimsy'. Others were flower sprinkles for $15 (£11), wildflower honey with honeycomb for $28 (£21), a crepe mix and a shortbread cookie mix with flower sprinkles, both $14. Three types of herbal tea also came out at the same time - hibiscus, lemon ginger and peppermint - for $12 (£9) each. All the products sold out in about 45 minutes. The King's Highgrove Organic Strawberry Preserve saw boosted sales after Meghan's jam launched The Duchess had teased the relaunch with an Instagram post on her As Ever account at midnight Pacific Time (8am UK time), with a new photograph of her smiling on a garden swing with the simple caption: 'No more sleeps'. Meghan had promised some 'delicious surprises' for fans today after describing the April launch of the original As Ever products as 'absolutely extraordinary'. In an Instagram post on June 16, the Duchess wrote: 'Oh yes, honey… sweet things await. Mark your calendars for June 20 at 8am PT – we're bringing back your favorites, plus some delicious surprises you won't want to miss!' In a newsletter issued on June 16, the former Suits actress also wrote: 'First off, a sincere thank you for making the debut of As Ever absolutely extraordinary. 'We had a feeling there would be excitement, but to see everything sell out in less than an hour was an amazing surprise. We are pleased to share that on June 20th, we're going live with the products you love – plus, some new delicious surprises.' PR experts said the latest email was noticeably different to Meghan's first As Ever message, which was a long piece full of inspirational quotes and personal anecdotes. Sarah Schmidt, celebrity publicist and president of PR firm Interdependence, told MailOnline on Wednesday: 'Meghan's first As Ever newsletter was poetic and intimate. 'It positioned the brand as an extension of her personal rituals and values, written in the voice of someone building a lifestyle, not just selling a product. 'The latest email, by contrast, is pure transaction: short, strategic and sales-focused. And that pivot is telling.' She said the audience is now witnessing a 'shift' in Meghan from a 'founder-as-storyteller' to 'founder-as-operator.' Ms Schmidt added: 'It suggests a brand moving from emotional origin story into operational scale. However, when key team members exit and the tone tightens, audiences can feel that. 'If the first email said, 'Come into my garden,' the second says, 'Get ready to shop.' Neither is wrong, but the dissonance creates questions. Not just about Meghan's role but about the heart and soul of the brand.' Earlier this month Meghan said she had decided to 'just pause' restocking her brand, saying she wanted to wait until it is 'completely stable and we have everything we need'. She also spoke of the difficulties of building her firm and 'how many tears' she has shed behind the scenes on a bonus episode of her Confessions of a Female Founder podcast featuring Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles. Meghan had suggested the 'scarcity mentality at the beginning might be a hook for people', comparing it to 'a sneaker drop'. But she feared it might be 'annoying' for customers, adding: 'I don't want you to eat that jam once every six months. I want that to be on your shelf all the time.' Meghan said: 'So for me at the moment, with As Ever, it was great. We planned for a year we get and then everything sells out in 45 minutes. 'Yes, amazing, great news. Then what do you do? And then you say 'Ok, we planned as best as we could. Are we going to replenish and sell out again in an hour? Or is that annoying as a customer? 'I'm looking at it saying 'Just pause. That happened. Let's wait until we are completely stable and we have everything we need'.' She added how people 'see all the flashy stuff and they see the product. But that end game… those behind the scenes moments, how many tears I've shed'. The Duchess has denied that her personal Instagram account, where she shares behind the scenes footage of family life, is a tool to promote her business. Meghan said returning to social media at the start of the year was 'a great way to get my voice back', and she uses it for 'authentic' sharing such as her twerking video. She added: 'It's my space and my channel for joy.' The former Suits actress went back on Instagram in January, first with footage of her running around a beach and writing 2025 in the sand, and then a montage from her Netflix show With Love, Meghan. The Duchess has since made numerous posts about As Ever, mentioning her As Ever Instagram account, but has also released photos and videos of the Sussexes' life with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. On Lili's fourth birthday last week, Meghan shared footage of herself twerking in a labour room while heavily pregnant with her daughter. On the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast, entrepreneur Grede asked Meghan about her return to social media, saying: 'Are you thinking about it in the way that so many of us do as also a business tool?' Meghan replied: 'Not for my personal account, no.' Grede challenged her, asking: 'Really?' Meghan said: 'For my personal account? …No.' Grede told her: 'Well that's the one we're all following.' Meghan replied and laughed: 'Well good…as long as you're following As Ever too. No, I think for me it was great way to get my voice back… It's my space and my channel for joy – that is the intention of my handle.' Meghan's personal account @Meghan has 3.9 million followers. Her @aseverofficial account has 864,000 followers, and is linked into her @Meghan bio, as is her ShopMy collection. Earlier this week, Meghan shared a new video of herself gardening with her daughter, who was sporting a brand loved by the Wales children. In the Instagram clip, Montecito-based Meghan and Lilibet, four, appeared to enjoy foraging through the bushes while collecting fresh produce. The mother-daughter duo stood on a bridge while searching for fresh fruits in the sunshine. Meghan, dressed in a casual white shirt and black shorts, gently stroked her daughter's hair while an anonymous cameraperson captured them from across a stream. Meanwhile, the youngest child of Meghan and Prince Harry put on a sweet display in a light pink ensemble and a £35 rainbow bag from Jellycat. The popular British toy brand, which is famous for selling cuddly toys with smiling faces, is also a firm favourite among the Prince and Princess of Wales 's children - and Princess Charlotte posed with a toy from the brand in a 2015 portrait.
