The King and Queen may walk barefoot on the lawn of the British embassy in Washington during their state visit, as the grass is pesticide-free and organic, the head gardener has said.
John Sonnier, who manages the extensive grounds of the official residence, said the garden is run along the same sustainable principles as the King's private country home, Highgrove in Gloucestershire. He noted that the embassy maintains the gardens daily as if the King were arriving the next day.
Sonnier joked that his main concern about the state visit is the number of people in the garden. He added that the King and Queen would be 'pleasantly surprised' to find the lawn safe for barefoot walking, given its organic status.
The full itinerary for the four-day visit, which includes a meeting with US President Donald Trump and a White House banquet, has yet to be released. The King is also due to address a joint meeting of the US Congress.
The visit comes amid transatlantic tensions over the Iran conflict and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which has cast a shadow due to the late prince Andrew's friendship with the sex offender.
