The report claims that, of the 12 full-time gardening staff who were employed there in 2022, 11 have since resigned and been replaced\u2014including not one but two head gardeners. The report paints a picture of a toxic workplace culture at the very heart of the king\u2019s cherished sanctuary.<\/p>\n
![\"Prince](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/PHAS7D3B5FO5NFIGHURTMXLVTI.jpg\")
Miserable staff have accused King Charles of intimidating low-paid staff at Highgrove. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty <\/p>\n
Highgrove, a nine-bedroom property bought by the then-Prince of Wales 45 years ago, has long been promoted as a symbol of Charles\u2019s deep connection to nature and his eco-conscious values. The gardens, designed with organic principles and celebrated for their \u201cwild\u201d aesthetic, have played a central role in his public image. More than 40,000 members of the public visit Highgrove\u2019s gardens each year, drawn by the king\u2019s reputation for environmental stewardship and horticultural passion.<\/p>\n
It now turns out that, behind the scenes, the environment is anything but harmonious.<\/p>\n
Former staff describe Charles as \u201cintensely demanding,\u201d prone to sending critical notes written in thick red ink, and involving himself in minute horticultural details, the Times reports. He said of one gardener who made a simple mistake: \u201cDo not put that man in front of me again.\u201d<\/p>\n
One memo from His Majesty reportedly instructed staff to remove a single sprouting weed near the perimeter of a swimming pool. Another reprimanded staff for grammatical errors, and yet another chastized staff after a failed delphinium crop.<\/p>\n
![\"King](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/RPBVSXVQJJLJLFE45J4FXIVAH4.jpg\")
Former staff at Highgrove describe King Charles, pictured here with Queen Camilla in the gardens, as \u201cintensely demanding.\u201d Millie Pilkington\/Buckingham Palace\/Handout via Reuters <\/p>\n
The mean memos have contributed to a steep decline in staff morale. <\/p>\n
In 2023, one former employee submitted a formal complaint that described a team \u201coverwhelmed and struggling to fulfil the king\u2019s requests.\u201d <\/p>\n
The same complaint stated: \u201cThere is little management of His Majesty the King\u2019s expectations, and I know I would not be allowed to say we are understaffed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Compounding the problem is low pay (endemic in royal households). Many gardeners at Highgrove are reportedly paid only the minimum wage, a source of frustration for staff working under high pressure with complex expectations from a demanding boss. <\/p>\n
The King\u2019s Foundation, the charity responsible for managing Highgrove and its operations, responded to the high \u201cchurn\u201d of staff by commissioning an external investigation into the matter. <\/p>\n
Strikingly, the review concluded that the working environment was so poor that it recommended providing \u201cmental health support and counselling\u201d for staff, a deeply ironic twist given that Highgrove\u2019s gardens are supposed to represent serenity, balance, and peace.<\/p>\n
The investigation also highlighted a particularly tone-deaf suggestion reportedly made by the king in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to The Sunday Times, Charles floated the idea of using Ukrainian refugees or elderly people to volunteer in the gardens. The proposal will reinforce the impression of a monarch wildly out of touch. <\/p>\n
![\"galleries\/2012\/06\/26\/ringo-starr-bob-dylan-courtney-love-and-other-celebrity-artists-photos\/celebrity-artists-prince-charles_jnqefm\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/4VX3TT4SAFL3RPW5VS6OQJC7ZM.jpg\")
King Charles bought Highgrove when he was Prince of Wales as a personal retreat. Tim Graham \/ Getty Images <\/p>\n
How the royal family treats its staff has become an interesting part of the public discourse around the monarchy, especially following repeated criticisms<\/a> of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for high staff turnover and alleged poor treatment of aides. The revelation that the king himself may be presiding over an even more dysfunctional environment could invite unwelcome comparisons and fresh scrutiny.<\/p>\n For a monarch who has tried to present himself as a modernizer and a compassionate leader, it\u2019s less than ideal.<\/p>\n One gardener said staff were treated like \u201cdirt,\u201d adding: \u201cThere was anger boiling at the surface \u2026 very impatient, no politeness at all.\u201d This person said the king\u2019s position made it impossible to speak up: \u201cIt was like, you should be thankful that we\u2019ve given you a job, and you work for the king, the highest person in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n Buckingham Palace did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast, but, in a brief statement to The Sunday Times, The King\u2019s Foundation maintained that staff satisfaction is high, citing employee surveys, and also noted the implementation of \u201cchanges to improve team working and communications.\u201d <\/p>\n However, it did not appear to address the core allegations of micromanagement or the cultural issues that have led to the exodus of gardening staff.<\/p>\n Meghan\u2019s Netflix show is officially a bomb<\/b><\/p>\n With Love, Meghan was positioned as a breakout lifestyle series, but its performance has fallen far short of expectations.<\/p>\n![\"With](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ZHJWMQOL5ZEKVD6CEQY635THII.jpg\")
“With Love, Meghan” has failed to crack Netfix’s top 300 most-watched shows Courtesy of Netflix \u00a9 2025 <\/p>\n