Page 19 | King Charles - disquiet at Highgrove & the gardeners’ exodus - SUNDAY TIMES INVESTIGATION

vera99 · 2025-07-20T05:59:33+00:00

Murdoch is growing bolder in his dotage — first with Trump, and now with another bombshell investigation into the grasping, stagnant, and catastrophically out-of-touch Windsors. And yet we keep pumping more public money into this so-called dysfunctional family. *What you need to know* ^King’s demands, staff shortages and low pay led to gardener exodus at Highgrove ^ ^Royal charity which runs gardens told to offer mental health support after formal investigation ^ ^Charles has lost 11 of 12 garden staff since 2022 including two head gardeners who quit within a year ^ ^Monarch said of one worker: “Do not put that man in front of me again”^ ^After Ukraine invasion King proposed plugging staff shortages with war refugees or the elderly ^ ^At one point half of staff were on minimum wage ^ [[https://archive.ph/fspT3#selection-1495.0-1501.155 https://archive.ph/fspT3#selection-1495.0-1501.155]]

Original poster

vera99 · 21/07/2025 20:11

PigeonDress · 21/07/2025 20:04

Wonder what the notoriously tight fisted King Harry would be paying his gardeners....

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If it was rubbish we would know about it and you would be crowing about it so let's assume it's enough !

OP posts:

PigeonDress · 21/07/2025 20:13

vera99 · 21/07/2025 20:11

If it was rubbish we would know about it and you would be crowing about it so let's assume it's enough !

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What are you talking about? I'm talking about a hypothetical King Harry of your fever dream.

jeffgoldblum · 21/07/2025 20:15

Serenster · 21/07/2025 19:38

I also looked at the Times article perhaps through a slightly more questioning lens than other posters! It’s certainly very carefully written.

The guts of it - there was one grievance raised against not Charles himself but the “Garden’s management” which we are then told is The Kings Foundation charity. They, properly, as we are told, commissioned an indendent review, which found a number of issues. The Kings’ Foundation response to the journalist was to say that: “staff had been given pay increases and the proposals contained in the grievance report had been mostly implemented. The source added that there were no longer any vacancies within the gardening team, and only injuries that could occur “within any working garden” had been reported”. The journalist does not suggest that this statement is inaccurate, or that the changes have not been made.

So far, so good - a complaint has been appropriately investigated and apparently acted upon. That’s a fairly normal occurrence in any workplace - hardly worthy of a splash.

Then we get to the spin against Charles himself. His memos outlining what he wants done by the gardening team are “strikingly specific”, we are told - “demanding, for instance, that staff move a single, unacceptable ragwort from the perimeter of his swimming pool”. It’s worth remembering that “demanding” here was the journalist’s own choice of words. I think it’s incredibly unlikely the instructions said “I demand the ragwort be removed” (if they did, it would have been quote, for starters!). More likely “remove ragwort from swimming pool perimeter” was an item on his list. That’s hardy noteworthy, and actually far more helpful to the gardening team than non-specific instructions.

Then it says Charles tells them how he has felt, positive and negative, about their work. He gave them feedback, in other words. Again, hardly worthy of a splash.

Then we get to the the allegation that “Of 12 full-time gardeners employed in 2022, 11 have left, including two heads of gardens and a deputy head gardener who departed within the space of a year. One had served the King for decades” . it does not mention that one of those Heads of Garden was Debs Goodenough, who was well known as a Head Gardener and recently retired after 10 years at Highgrove. Presumably the other who had worked there “for decades” also retired?

You can go through the entire article looking at how carefully it has been written. Long on insinuations, but short on what Charles is actually, objectively, alleged to have done wrong. It reads to me like the editor wanted an anti-Charles story, and the journalist did what he could with the not exactly damning things he found out.

Thanks @Serenster!
pretty much what I thought!
clickbait title , and column filler article!

jeffgoldblum · 21/07/2025 20:19

vera99 · 21/07/2025 19:58

The King of the Netherlands complicates the argument he’s genuinely well-liked, widely popular, and brings the country together with good humour and a light touch. The Dutch monarchy understands that ageing monarchs rarely make great ones, so they have the good sense to step aside for younger blood and they actually work hard for it. Sorry Graham ! Harry would have been that sort of King but he had the misfortune of being born Spare and here we are.

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Harry ?!!! Really ? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

jeffgoldblum · 21/07/2025 20:23

Serenster · 21/07/2025 20:01

Harry would have been that sort of King but he had the misfortune of being born Spare and here we are.

Actually i think Harry would have been an unmitigated disaster as a direct heir, but there you go…

This is as amusing as if the sentence said…

andrew would have been that sort of king but he had the misfortune of being born spare and here we are…..

jeffgoldblum · 21/07/2025 20:32

My last post before I cook , @vera99, I’m sorry but you have outed yourself throughly.
you are not a republican fighting the good fight for us downtrodden “peasants “ , I can’t believe that I read the rubbish you spouted and took it at face value!

no self respecting republican wants to replace a monarchy with another monarchy and install the royal family member of their choice!
you are either for or against, no cherry picking your favourite!
just another h and m fan masquerading in republican clothing.

BigWillyLittleTodger · 21/07/2025 20:34

vera99 · 21/07/2025 20:10

Bring back Captain Tom and Raynor Win at least these are national unifying symbols of hope !!

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I see that you are not posting in good faith now, so concerned about Royal finances and yet you bring in Captain Tom……….

BigWillyLittleTodger · 21/07/2025 20:37

I thought this thread was from a genuine republican but it’s clearly a hate fest from a Diana and Harry loving poster with an axe to grind, hopefully everyone else will see this thread for what it is.

BigWillyLittleTodger · 21/07/2025 20:39

vera99 · 21/07/2025 20:11

If it was rubbish we would know about it and you would be crowing about it so let's assume it's enough !

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Never mind the NDA’s their staff have to sign, at least the RF staff’s pay is out in the open, unlike your heroes.

CathyorClaire · 21/07/2025 20:46

So. We have C handing over the running of his garden to charity meaning he has a handy fall guy for grumbles and grievances, no longer has to underwrite decent wages or sundry expenses yet apparently can still insist on involving himself in minute detail and getting his private bush trimmed for free?

Royal wide boy rides again 😬

CurlewKate · 21/07/2025 20:48

CoffeeCantata · 21/07/2025 20:05

But - why are they? What in earth’s not to like about someone speaking to us ALL as a nation and wishing us a Merry Christmas, or festive season, to be more inclusive? Or reassuring us during the epidemic? But to me it has power because it’s tied up with the continuity of the monarchy.

Unless you’re determined to be a miserablist it’s a bit perverse to find these things divisive.

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I have no desire to be spoken to, wished a happy Christmas or reassured by an insanely rich, unelected ruler who I cannot get rid of and who has no real power to change anything and who i am expected to defer to and respect despite a lack of talent, ability or achievement.I think people either have Republican bones or Monarchist bones and never the twain shall meet.

Pubgarden · 21/07/2025 20:52

Streetsofgold · 21/07/2025 19:43

Ragwort is only poisonous when mixed with hay. Horses tend to avoid it 'in the wild' so a rogue ragwort in tended gardens is no risk to man nor beast. this much maligned plant, as the ill informed post above incorrectly asserts is in fact incredible. Ragwort is an important native plant that helps feed dozens of bees, moths, other insects and birds. Something One would hope Charles would support.

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"Ragwort plants produce many thousands of seeds, and its seed are adapted to ensure wide dispersal.

If your garden borders grazing land or land used to grow forage, or contains a paddock, then it is prudent to control ragwort. If you fail to control its spread, you could be served an order under the Weeds Act 1959 to do so. The Ragwort Control Act 2003 sets out a Code of Practice on preventing its spread and non-compliance with this can be used as evidence in legal proceedings."

The Royal Horticultural Society.

Prevent the spread of ragwort: code of practice

How landowners and occupiers can assess the threat of ragwort on their land and control it.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-on-how-to-prevent-the-spread-of-ragwort

Serenster · 21/07/2025 20:52

CathyorClaire · 21/07/2025 20:46

So. We have C handing over the running of his garden to charity meaning he has a handy fall guy for grumbles and grievances, no longer has to underwrite decent wages or sundry expenses yet apparently can still insist on involving himself in minute detail and getting his private bush trimmed for free?

Royal wide boy rides again 😬

I imagine it’s no different to Apsley House. Owned by English Heritage but still the home of the Duke of Wellington, and he presumably gets a say in how his garden looks. Or the current resident of Number 10 Downing Street….

Pubgarden · 21/07/2025 20:55

Streetsofgold · 21/07/2025 19:43

Ragwort is only poisonous when mixed with hay. Horses tend to avoid it 'in the wild' so a rogue ragwort in tended gardens is no risk to man nor beast. this much maligned plant, as the ill informed post above incorrectly asserts is in fact incredible. Ragwort is an important native plant that helps feed dozens of bees, moths, other insects and birds. Something One would hope Charles would support.

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"It is vital that you ensure your horse doesn’t eat ragwort, and you can’t assume that they will choose not to eat it. Younger plants can taste less bitter than mature ones so it is possible that horses may consume ragwort without realising it.
Ragwort found in hay, haylage, or leaves that have fallen off a plant in the field and died, can very easily be eaten unknowingly and will be just as harmful as a living plant."

World Horse Welfare
https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/advice/ragwort-how-to-deal-with-it-in-a-horse-paddock

Ragwort: how to deal with it in a horse paddock - World Horse Welfare

Find out how to recognise ragwort and the best ways to remove it.

https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/advice/ragwort-how-to-deal-with-it-in-a-horse-paddock

Dahliasrule · 21/07/2025 21:00

Cardemomle · 20/07/2025 07:46

Exactly, excellent post.

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Though if you read the article closely, the swimming pool was not part of the gardener’s remit as it was outside the charity’s area. If it offended him so much, he could easily have pulled a single weed up himself.

CathyorClaire · 21/07/2025 21:02

Serenster · 21/07/2025 20:52

I imagine it’s no different to Apsley House. Owned by English Heritage but still the home of the Duke of Wellington, and he presumably gets a say in how his garden looks. Or the current resident of Number 10 Downing Street….

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Imagine and presume away.

The former isn't tax payer funded to the hilt and the latter we'd have to hope is too busy running the country to notice a stray weed he can't be arsed to pull himself.

Dahliasrule · 21/07/2025 21:03

Like many others, it sounds as though I pay my gardener a lot more than King Charles. (I do not live in London , but Lincolnshire so wages are not sky high here).

PigeonDress · 21/07/2025 21:05

Streetsofgold · 21/07/2025 19:43

Ragwort is only poisonous when mixed with hay. Horses tend to avoid it 'in the wild' so a rogue ragwort in tended gardens is no risk to man nor beast. this much maligned plant, as the ill informed post above incorrectly asserts is in fact incredible. Ragwort is an important native plant that helps feed dozens of bees, moths, other insects and birds. Something One would hope Charles would support.

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I'm sure he doesn't need a lecture from you. Charles' gardens are full of wild flowers, he's been creating wildflower spaces for decades. He's done more to encourage pollinators and promote the protection of native wild flowers than most, not least through his Coronation meadow programme. Highgrove has a meadow called Meadow Gatefold, planted 30 years ago and holding 27 native wildflower species. Seeds from this meadow are held at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (the doomsday vault) in Norway.

Ragwort seed heads are like dandelion clocks and it spreads like wildfire. Given his decades long love of wild flower habitats, he clearly has a reason why he thinks ragwort needs to be weeded out before it spreads, quite possibly thinking of the neighbouring farmers and horse-riders using public bridal ways in the area. I'm sure posters like the OP would be cock a hoop over a DM sad face spread of, "Prince Charles' wildflowers killed my horse".

PigeonDress · 21/07/2025 21:06

Dahliasrule · 21/07/2025 21:03

Like many others, it sounds as though I pay my gardener a lot more than King Charles. (I do not live in London , but Lincolnshire so wages are not sky high here).

Is he your employee? Or a contractor? If he's the latter, you are not comparing like for like.

Serenster · 21/07/2025 21:07

CathyorClaire · 21/07/2025 21:02

Imagine and presume away.

The former isn't tax payer funded to the hilt and the latter we'd have to hope is too busy running the country to notice a stray weed he can't be arsed to pull himself.

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How is Highgrove taxpayer funded?

BigWillyLittleTodger · 21/07/2025 21:11

Dahliasrule · 21/07/2025 21:03

Like many others, it sounds as though I pay my gardener a lot more than King Charles. (I do not live in London , but Lincolnshire so wages are not sky high here).

You are not your gardener’s employer I presume?if so you don’t pay their NI, tax or pension contributions, or their sickness and holiday pay, all you do is buy their services for a couple of hours, they are not your staff. out of that payment you make your gardener has to take out their costs, tax, VAT, public liability insurance, tools, equipment, van, fuel just to name a few things off the top of my head, of course you pay them more than someone who is employed. Baffling that I even have to point out the difference.

BigWillyLittleTodger · 21/07/2025 21:14

CathyorClaire · 21/07/2025 21:02

Imagine and presume away.

The former isn't tax payer funded to the hilt and the latter we'd have to hope is too busy running the country to notice a stray weed he can't be arsed to pull himself.

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Highgrove isn’t a tax payer funded residence.

CoffeeCantata · 21/07/2025 21:15

CurlewKate · 21/07/2025 20:48

I have no desire to be spoken to, wished a happy Christmas or reassured by an insanely rich, unelected ruler who I cannot get rid of and who has no real power to change anything and who i am expected to defer to and respect despite a lack of talent, ability or achievement.I think people either have Republican bones or Monarchist bones and never the twain shall meet.

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We can agree on that!

CathyorClaire · 21/07/2025 21:26

Serenster · 21/07/2025 21:07

How is Highgrove taxpayer funded?

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I was referring to the Duke Of Wellington but since you ask Highgrove was bought by the Duchy of Cornwall which exists to generate an income for the heir and in the process diverts much needed funds from the public purse.

Interesting that C 'paid rent' on it which went on to be recycled back into his own pocket in the form of Duchy profits.

Wide boy.

icelolly12 · 21/07/2025 21:33

If he's only paying minimum wage he can hardly expect the cream of the crop with expert botany knowledge. Even the guy who mows my lawn gets over double nmw.