King Charles's Venus-inspired garden at Windsor Castle is set to open to visitors this summer, showcasing the monarch's deep interest in natural patterns. Renamed the Venus Garden, the space beneath the royal residence's famous east facade has been reimagined under the King's personal vision, drawing inspiration from the planet Venus.
Design and Inspiration
Traced over an eight-year cycle, Venus's orbital path forms a geometric floral pattern, often known as the Pentagram of Venus or the Rose of Venus. This motif has guided the layout of the new perennial beds and evergreen hedge-lined pathways within the former East Terrace Garden, which was originally established in the 1820s during the reign of 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. After around 18 months of careful transformation, we are delighted to open the Venus Garden to visitors this summer, marking the start of an important new chapter in the garden's 200-year history."
Historical Significance
The site has a rich history: it was once Charles II's bowling green, later Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert took an interest in its planting, and during the Second World War, the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret used it as an allotment. The King's father, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, later simplified the layout into formal rose beds and commissioned a central fountain.
Inspired by Charles, the space has been updated with an enhanced intricate planting scheme, offering year-round structure and long periods of blooms with mixed perennials, roses, and 11,000 spring bulbs. Wildflower meadows, dotted with trees and threaded with pathways, introduce softer, more naturalistic areas within the formal layout, creating a biodiverse haven for wildlife and insects, reflecting the King's longstanding commitment to sustainability.
Visitor Access
Visitors to the castle's terrace will also see new avenues of pear trees, topiary yew shrubs, bronze Hubert Le Sueur figure sculptures made for Charles I from the Royal Collection, as well as large-scale marble, bronze, and stone vases and other garden ornaments. The area has only intermittently been open to the public throughout its history and will give tourists the rare opportunity to enjoy the impressive views of the castle's east facade, seldom seen as part of the usual visitor route.
Access to the Venus Garden is included with a standard ticket to Windsor Castle between 16 July and 13 September, at no extra charge. People receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits can visit the castle and explore the garden with up to five members of their household through Royal Collection Trust's £1 ticket scheme.
