King Charles has appeared on the cover of Country Life magazine to celebrate the extensive restoration of the gardens at Sandringham. The monarch is pictured in a relaxed pose, leaning on a shepherd's crook, dressed casually in a pale open-necked shirt, beige trousers, and brown suede shoes. The portrait was taken by photographer Millie Pilkington, personally selected by the King.
Mark Hedges, Country Life editor-in-chief, described the King's efforts since his accession as "remarkable." He said: "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." The magazine highlights the 60 acres of "pleasure gardens" as a "showcase of the finest designs."
Among the new features is a maze, reflecting Charles's known enthusiasm for such structures. He once told broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh that "there's nothing more enjoyable than getting lost in a maze." Other additions include a sundial garden, a topiary garden inspired by his boyhood memories of Queen Alexandra's ornamental garden, and a 400-yard magnolia walk featuring hundreds of varieties, many of which are personal favourites.
In 2023, the Sandringham lawn was revamped into a "climate friendly" topiary garden, addressing damage from warm weather and heavy rainfall. Country Life emphasised: "The scale, the speed and the importance of what he has already achieved cannot be overemphasised."
Sandringham has been the private home of five generations of British monarchs for over 150 years and was a beloved retreat of Queen Elizabeth II. King George V once described it as "the place I love better than anywhere else in the world." The gardens are typically open to the public from April to October.
Separately, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is expected to relocate to a property on the wider Sandringham estate in the new year, following his removal from royal duties. The full feature on the restoration is available in this week's edition of Country Life magazine.
