In a rare and relaxed portrait, King Charles has graced the cover of Country Life magazine to mark the completion of his ambitious three-year restoration project at Sandringham's historic gardens.
A Royal Vision Realised
The photograph captures a surprisingly casual monarch, bathed in sunlight within his Norfolk estate. Leaning on a shepherd's crook, the King appears at ease, dressed in a pale open-necked shirt, beige trousers, and brown suede shoes, a departure from his usual formal attire. The portrait was taken by photographer Millie Pilkington in one of the garden's formal sections.
Country Life's editor-in-chief Mark Hedges hailed the King's personal involvement in the transformation as 'remarkable'. He stated: 'Over the past three years, His Majesty The King has overseen a remarkable restoration of the gardens at Sandringham - reviving historic landscapes, reimagining formal parterres and creating new spaces of reflection and natural beauty for visitors to enjoy.'
Transforming 60 Acres of Royal Grounds
The magazine details the extensive work across Sandringham's 60 acres of 'pleasure gardens', which are surrounded by woods and parkland. The publication describes the result as a 'showcase of the finest designs', with the King personally directing the restoration.
Key features include a newly rebuilt sundial garden and a topiary garden inspired by Charles's childhood memories of Queen Alexandra's ornamental garden at Sandringham's Dairy Cottage. The King, a self-confessed maze enthusiast, has also added a maze to the grounds, once telling broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh that 'there's nothing more enjoyable than getting lost in a maze'.
Another significant addition is a 400 yard-long magnolia walk planted with hundreds of different varieties, including many of the King's personal favourites. Country Life emphasised the significance of the achievement, noting: 'The scale, the speed and the importance of what he has already achieved cannot be overemphasised.'
Public Access and Royal Developments
The gardens at Sandringham traditionally open to the public from April to October, allowing visitors to experience the King's horticultural masterpiece firsthand.
In related royal estate news, the King's brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is expected to move to a home on the wider, private Sandringham estate sometime in the new year, following his withdrawal from royal duties.
The full feature detailing the remarkable restoration of Sandringham's gardens appears in this week's edition of Country Life magazine, which is on sale now.
