King Charles has opened up about the heartfelt environmental legacy he hopes will endure long after his death in a remarkably personal new documentary for Prime Video. The monarch, now 77, reflects on decades of advocacy that was once dismissed as eccentric, sharing his profound connection to nature and his vision for a more harmonious world.
A Lifelong Passion for Nature
In Finding Harmony: A King's Vision, which airs on Friday 6th February, King Charles traces his environmental consciousness back to childhood. Cherished home videos show him playing in gardens with Queen Elizabeth II and her corgis, building sandcastles with Princess Anne, and exploring the outdoors with Prince Philip. "I've always loved the countryside," he says. "For me it's an essential part of life to have that connection with the world outside."
From Mockery to Mainstream
The documentary reveals how the King's environmental views were once widely ridiculed. He recalls being considered "completely bonkers" in the 1980s for admitting he talked to his plants. "All this sort of thing was considered completely bonkers to say the least," he reflects, noting how public perception has gradually shifted toward accepting his once-unconventional perspectives.
The Philosophy of Harmony
Central to the film is King Charles's philosophy of working with nature rather than against it. "We are nature ourselves," he explains. "We are a part of it, not apart from it." He expresses particular concern about declining wildlife populations, noting the disappearance of cuckoos from his estates and reduced insect numbers. "When I first came 45 years ago I used to hear cuckoos but I never hear a single cuckoo now," he laments.
Gardens as Sanctuary
The King reveals how his gardens at Highgrove House provide crucial mental sustenance, with the animals and insects that thrive there offering daily inspiration. He has a special affection for birds, describing swifts and swallows as "absolutely critical" to his wellbeing. "If they didn't come back each year I'd literally fall into despair," he admits.
Viewers will see amusing touches like his chicken coop named "Cluckingham Palace" and witness him feeding his poultry, reminiscent of Prince Harry's Netflix documentary. The film also showcases The Sanctuary, a small ornate building he constructed to mark the millennium using traditional materials including Highgrove clay and barley straw.
Practical Environmental Leadership
Beyond philosophy, the documentary highlights King Charles's practical environmental work. Through The King's Foundation at Dumfries House and Highgrove, he has pioneered organic farming, launched educational programmes, and created sustainable communities. He has worked to preserve rare vegetable varieties, arguing that genetic diversity protects against disease vulnerability.
"I wanted to find ways of ensuring we could rescue all these threatened heritage varieties," he explains, mentioning potatoes, cauliflower, and peas specifically. His practical approach even extends to culinary preferences: "If you want to have decent baked potatoes, which I love, then you've got to get crispy skins." He recommends Red Duke of York potatoes discovered through trial and error.
Global Environmental Diplomacy
The film acknowledges King Charles's decades of using his position to advance environmental causes globally. He has been instrumental in establishing and regularly addressing the Conference of the Parties (COP) climate meetings, uniting world leaders around sustainability issues. "It's been my main motivation for a long long time," he says of his environmental concerns.
Legacy and Reflection
Contemplating his mortality, King Charles expresses hope that his environmental advocacy will represent his lasting contribution. "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. He finds solace in seeing trees he planted decades ago now thriving: "The beeches I planted right at the beginning... It's unbelievable how much they've grown."
Narrated by Kate Winslet, the 90-minute documentary offers unprecedented access to the monarch's personal environmental journey. It airs as King Charles continues treatment for a form of cancer diagnosed in February 2024, adding poignancy to his reflections on legacy and the natural world he has championed throughout his life.
