King Charles Shares Environmental Vision in Upcoming Documentary
In a deeply personal new documentary, King Charles has opened up about his lifelong commitment to environmental causes, expressing his hope to see greater awareness of ecological issues before he dies. The monarch revealed he was "haunted" by past criticism over his unconventional approach to nature, including his famous admission that he talks to plants.
A Monarch's Environmental Philosophy
Finding Harmony: A King's Vision, a 90-minute documentary set for release on Prime Video next month, explores Charles's "harmony" philosophy and his decades-long advocacy for sustainable practices. The film, created in collaboration with his charity The King's Foundation for Amazon MGM Studios, presents the monarch's stark assessment that humanity is "rapidly going backwards" in environmental protection.
"We're actually destroying our means of survival, all the time," Charles states in the documentary. "People don't seem to understand it's not just climate that's the problem, it's also biodiversity loss."
Personal Reflections and Past Criticism
The documentary revisits a moment that has followed Charles for decades - his 1986 television interview where he revealed he talks to plants. Actress Kate Winslet, who narrates the film, recounts how Charles was "haunted" by the criticism he faced following that admission.
Ian Skelly, co-author of the King's 2010 book Harmony, comments in the film: "Those criticisms really upset him. He got treated very unfairly, seen very unfairly, and those of us that knew him better were quite upset by that."
Royal Family Moments and Personal Touches
The documentary includes both new footage and archival material showing Charles's personal connection to nature. Viewers see the King collecting eggs from chickens at the "Cluckingham Palace" coop on his Highgrove estate and hear his surprising culinary preference.
"If you want to have a decent baked potato, which I love, you've got to have the crispy skins, so the red Duke of Yorks are very good," Charles reveals, showcasing his knowledge of vegetable varieties.
Family moments feature throughout the documentary, including:
- Archive footage of a young Prince Harry learning to fish with his father at Balmoral
- Prince William as a child with Charles at Highgrove
- Brief appearances of Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during the coronation
- Home movie footage of the late Queen Elizabeth II filming a young Charles
A Lifelong Commitment Despite Skepticism
Charles reflects on being considered "bonkers" for pioneering organic farming on his Highgrove land in the 1980s. "I felt the time had come to demonstrate how you could restore soil fertility because by then the soil had lost all its life," he explains. "All this sort of thing was considered completely bonkers."
Despite facing skepticism throughout his environmental advocacy, Charles remained steadfast. "I just felt this was the approach that I was going to stick to," he states in the documentary. "A course I set and I wasn't going to be diverted from."
Documentary Premiere and Royal First
The documentary represents a significant departure from traditional royal programming. A spokesperson for the King described it as "not a conventional royal documentary," noting: "There are no golden carriages here; no glittering crowns or crimson robes."
Instead, the film offers "a deeply personal exploration of ideas that have shaped His Majesty's life and work: the interconnectedness of all things, the wisdom of traditional knowledge, and the belief that we can build a future that works in partnership with nature rather than against it."
In a royal first, the King and Queen will attend the premiere at Windsor Castle, believed to be the first time a global movie premiere has been held at a royal residence.
Looking to the Future
Despite acknowledging the slow progress on environmental issues, Charles expresses cautious optimism. "Maybe, by the time I shuffle off this mortal coil, there might be a little more awareness... of the need to bring things back together again," he reflects.
The documentary also highlights the work of The King's Foundation, which implements the harmony philosophy through projects focusing on community regeneration, sustainable textiles, and traditional skills. To coincide with the documentary's release, Charles's 2010 book Harmony will be republished by HarperCollins in March.
Finding Harmony: A King's Vision will be available on Prime Video from February 6 in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide, marking the King's first documentary with a streaming platform.
