King Charles in Wales (Image: Getty)
King Charles is a “genuinely serious, keen and good gardener”, according to horticulturist and broadcaster Monty Don.
In an interview with the Radio Times, the presenter revealed that the King and Queen both “love” gardening; the monarch even prunes his own trees.
According to Mr Don, King Charles, one of the country’s best-known green-fingered celebrities, is a major advocate of organic gardening.
Promote a new five-part series where he explores Britain’s gardens; Mr Don said: “Certainly, the King is a genuinely serious, keen and good gardener.
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King Charles opens the Aberdeen Flower Show using a set of gardening shears. (Image: Getty)
“I also know the Queen loves gardening. She’s been to my garden. Both of them have a real personal interest”, he added.
Mr Don went on: “I know the King enjoys working in the arboretum on the Birkhall estate and prunes the trees himself.”
Discussing his experience visiting the King’s private estate in Scotland, Mr Don noted: “The truth is that I feel privileged to have access to anybody’s private garden, and Birkhall, in some ways, is no different.
“Obviously, that’s slightly disingenuous because you’re very aware that it’s not something many people get the chance to do.”
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King Charles has enjoyed gardening for decades. (Image: Getty)
Mr Don credited the King with keeping gardening in Brits’ national consciousness.
Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: “Our love of gardens becomes a completely unifying feature of the British personality if you have a monarch that clearly loves gardens and is good at it.”
Discussing his hands-on approach, Mr Don said of the King: “He certainly gets down on his knees and does it himself.
“I imagine for the last year he has been incredibly busy, and obviously there are royal gardeners who help, but what the King knows and understands is that actually doing the gardening, weeding or pruning or whatever, is part of the great joy of gardening.”