Mass staff departures raise concerns behind the scenes of monarch’s
sustainability efforts
Just one week after King Charles launched his ambitious Harmony Summit at
Highgrove Gardens, the monarch has been hit with a troubling development that
threatens to overshadow his environmental agenda.
While the King’s Foundation hosted a high-profile event that brought together
indigenous leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts to discuss global
environmental stewardship, reports from The Sunday Times reveal a very
different story unfolding behind the royal estate’s gates.
According to the report, 11 out of 12 full-time gardeners employed at
Highgrove in 2022 have resigned. Those departing included senior roles such as
both heads of gardens and a deputy head gardener—all within the span of a
year. One veteran staff member, who had served the King for decades, also left
his post.
Sources claim the staff were underpaid, earning around minimum wage, and found
themselves overwhelmed by the scale of demands. “Under-resourced and
constantly struggling to fulfill the King’s requests,” one insider said,
describing a work environment that left employees feeling drained.
The report also shed light on the King’s management style. During daily
morning walkabouts, Charles is told to issue verbal instructions that must be
executed before his next visit. He reportedly follows up with handwritten
notes in “thick red ink”—memos described as “strikingly specific and
emotional.”
While the Harmony Summit aimed to showcase King Charles’s long-held vision for
a more sustainable and inclusive future, the internal staffing issues at
Highgrove have raised questions about whether the royal household is living up
to the ideals it promotes.
As the monarch continues to build a legacy rooted in peace and sustainability,
this setback serves as a reminder that harmony must also begin at home.
