King Charles III has made a rare TV appearance ahead of the Christmas period.
The monarch appeared on a BBC Christmas special of Countryfile which was filmed at his Highgrove home. and showcased the work of The King’s Foundation’s education programmes. The show’s hosts, Matt Baker, Margherita Taylor and Adam Henson, were introduced to staff at the King’s charity, while his royal residence was transformed into a festive wonderland.
Presenter Matt spoke to Highgrove’s head gardener Grainne Ring while also helping to harvest Charles’s Brussels sprouts. He later went on to speak to head chef Luke Windebank who said Charles is “quite protective” of the sprouts in his garden. Speaking of the monarch’s love for them, the chef said: “His majesty does enjoy his sprouts, he’s quite protective of them in the garden.”
The Countryfile festive edition also spoke to staff at the King’s charity (
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PA)
Constantine Innemee, the Highgrove director of The King’s Foundation, also told the show that everything within the gardens has come from an idea of Charles’. He explained: “What drew him to the house is it is a place that he could really make his own. Essentially, he had a blank canvas. And everything that you see when you’re walking through the gardens is something that he created. It came out of his mind. It was his vision. And I think that sort of template, a blank slate, to be able to start, was something that was quite appealing.”
The added the King’s personality can be seen “everywhere” in the garden, saying: “I mean, every plant, every tree, every hedge. He’s a painter as well. He’s an accomplished artist and I think you see that in the way the gardens are laid out. There’s always something drawing your eye, there’s a composition.”
Head of horticulture at The King’s Foundation, Melissa Simpson, also discussed the King’s role, insisting he still gets “100%” involved with the gardens. She added: “He’s constantly thinking about the landscape, the garden, the environment, and every element of it, to be honest.”
The King’s Foundation offers education courses for almost 15,000 students annually, and health and wellbeing programmes for nearly 2,000 people each year. It also spearheads placemaking and regeneration projects in the UK and overseas to revitalise communities and historic buildings.
It acts as the custodian of Highgrove Gardens, home to education programmes in traditional and heritage crafts, including the Snowdon School of Furniture and the Metiers d’Art Fellowship in partnership with Chanel and le19M. The King attended the royal residence for the annual Crafts At Christmas event, where he was filmed being presented with creations from the Snowdon School of Furniture students. He was given a box of baubles created by students on a post-graduate furniture course and marvelled at the square ornaments they had carved from alder, oak and cedar.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, will not be spending Christmas with His Majesty (
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Getty Images)
Jesting, Charles said he needed an “extra-strong tree” after feeling the weight of a bauble. Then, after he had finishing hanging a bauble on a Christmas tree outside the Orchard Room, Charles discussed the “battle” to maintain “timeless skills” to keep traditional crafts alive. He said: “It’s really trying to maintain the timeless skills, which are always needed really, whatever age we’re in. They are all rather disappearing, the battle is trying to keep all the special ones.”
The Countryfile episode follows Charles taking part in a 2023 special of The Repair Shop, where he showcased the work of the students – when the charity was called The Prince’s Foundation – as well as speaking about heritage crafts.
The episode comes as it was revealed Charles had uninvited brother Prince Andrew to Christmas with the royals after he had confirmed that he had “ceased all contact” with a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy. Speaking to OK! Magazine, former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond described the recent headlines as “another embarrassing row” involving the royal, suggesting that King Charles would have “hated” having to uninvite him from the Sandringham gathering.
Jennie said: “The King is a kind soul and Andrew is his brother: he would have hated to be put in the position of having to un-invite him or ban him from what promises to be a big family get together. It seems quite likely that Andrew sat down with Fergie, and possibly his daughters, to discuss the best solution. Thankfully, wise heads have prevailed and he obviously realised that his presence at Sandringham would be an embarrassing distraction on a day which – this year of all years – should be all about the King and Catherine.”
