King Charles has revealed that Sandringham gardens have undergone extensive renovations, as he graced the cover of Country Life to celebrate the restoration, with the estate preparing for the arrival of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Charles looked relaxed as he was pictured in the sunshine, dressed in a pale open-necked shirt, beige trousers, and brown suede shoes, leaning on a shepherd’s crook.
The photo was taken by photographer Millie Pilkington, who was personally picked by the King, and was taken in a formal park of his Norfolk estate.
Mark Hedges, Country Life’s editor-in-chief, described the King’s renovations since he became monarch as “remarkable.”
King Charles has done extensive work on the Sandringham Estate since becoming monarch
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He said: “Over the past three years, His Majesty The King has overseen a remarkable restoration of the gardens at Sandringham — reviving historic landscapes, reimagining formal parterres and creating new spaces of reflection and natural beauty for visitors to enjoy.”
The magazine goes on to describe Sandringham’s 60 acres of “pleasure gardens,” which are surrounded by parkland, as a “showcase of the finest designs” where the King has rebuilt formal areas with a sundial garden, a maze, and a topiary garden inspired by Charles’s childhood memories of Queen Alexandra’s ornamental garden at Sandringham’s Dairy Cottage.
The King has previously spoken about his love of mazes, when he told broadcaster and Country Life columnist Alan Titchmarsh that “there’s nothing more enjoyable than getting lost in a maze.”
Charles has also added a 400-yard magnolia walk with hundreds of varieties adorning the paths, including many of his personal favourites.
The magazine continued to say: “The scale, the speed and the importance of what he has already achieved cannot be overemphasised.”
The gardens are open to the public from April to October each year.
King Charles has spoken previously on his love of mazes
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Andrew is set to move into a home on the Sandringham Estate sometime in the future, following his receipt of notice on his lease at Royal Lodge.
The King took unprecedented steps to remove his brothers' royal titles after Andrew’s ongoing links to convicted peadophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Buckingham Palace announced the change on October 30, writing: “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.
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“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.
“Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had his royal titles removed in October
| GETTY“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”