A garden at Windsor Castle, reimagined under King Charles III's personal vision and inspired by the planet Venus, will open to visitors this summer. Renamed the Venus Garden, the space beneath the castle's east facade reflects the King's deep interest in natural patterns.
The garden's design is based on Venus's orbital path traced over an eight-year cycle, forming a geometric floral pattern known as the Pentagram of Venus or Rose of Venus. This motif guides the layout of new perennial beds and evergreen hedge-lined pathways within the former East Terrace Garden, originally established in the 1820s under George IV.
Adam Scott, gardens and nursery manager at Windsor Castle, said: 'This has been a significant project to reshape this historic garden for the future, reflecting His Majesty’s vision to create a space that will offer beauty, interest and biodiversity throughout the seasons and for generations to come.' He added that after 18 months of transformation, they are delighted to open the garden to visitors, marking a new chapter in its 200-year history.
The site has a rich history: it was once Charles II's bowling green, later Prince Albert took an interest in its planting, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret used it as an allotment during World War II. Prince Philip simplified the layout into formal rose beds with a central fountain. Now, under Charles's inspiration, the space features enhanced planting with mixed perennials, roses, 11,000 spring bulbs, and wildflower meadows to support biodiversity.
Visitors will also see new pear tree avenues, topiary yew shrubs, bronze sculptures by Hubert Le Sueur from the Royal Collection, and large-scale vases. The garden has only intermittently been open to the public, offering rare views of the castle's east facade. Access is included with a standard Windsor Castle ticket from 16 July to 13 September, with a £1 ticket scheme for Universal Credit recipients.
