Highgrove Gardeners Quit Over Demands – Report
Highgrove Gardens Faces Scrutiny amid Staff Departures and Management Concerns
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King Charles III’s contry residence, Highgrove House, is reportedly experiencing critically important staff turnover within its renowned gardens, with allegations of poor management practices and under-resourcing contributing to the departures of at least 11 gardeners, including senior figures.
Garden Staff Exodus and Royal Displeasure
Highgrove House,the King’s private residence in Gloucestershire,which he rents from the Duchy for a reported £340,000 annually,serves as a cherished country retreat for Charles and Queen Camilla. The property has also been a place of rest for the King following hospital treatment for cancer side effects earlier this year.
However, the Sunday Times has revealed a concerning trend of staff departures from the Highgrove Gardens. Among the 11 gardeners who have left,two were heads of gardens,and one had a long tenure,having served Charles for many years. The newspaper also highlighted an instance where a gardener reportedly failed probation due to a lack of knowledge about a specific flower, leading to Charles allegedly remarking, “don’t put that man in front of me again.”
Management Under Fire: an External Examination
The King’s Foundation, the charitable body responsible for Highgrove Gardens and its educational programs, commissioned an external investigation following a complaint from a staff member in late 2023. This staff member described the gardening team as “overwhelmed, under-resourced and struggling to fulfil the Charles’ requests.”
The subsequent investigation, as reported by The Sunday times, corroborated these claims, finding evidence of “staff shortages” and “poor” management practices. The report also identified remuneration as a significant “issue for recruitment and retention.” Recommendations from the investigation included “management training for all managers,” “mental health support and counselling,” and a pay review.
While staff at the gardens have reportedly received cumulative pay rises of between 15% and 19% as 2022, the issues raised suggest these measures may not have fully addressed the underlying problems.
Allegations of Shouting and Unsubstantiated Complaints
Further details emerging from the report include an allegation from August 2023, where a senior gardener claimed to have been “shouted at” by Constantine Innemee, who was then the Highgrove director for The King’s Foundation.The King’s Foundation reportedly initiated an investigation into this complaint but did not uphold it.
King’s Foundation Defends its Record
In response to the reports, a spokeswoman for The king’s Foundation emphasized their commitment to staff welfare, stating, “At The King’s Foundation, we take staff welfare extremely seriously and strive to be an exemplary employer. We are proud to regularly report very high satisfaction rates in our annual staff survey.”
The spokeswoman added that staff turnover at the foundation is “well below the national average,” as is the number of formal grievances. regarding the highgrove gardening team specifically, she noted that guidance from the Professional Gardeners Guild is regularly consulted for pay benchmarking.
The foundation also highlighted positive developments under its custodianship, including a doubling of operating profit since 2022, the establishment of a new education facility for heritage skills, and continued visitor numbers exceeding 40,000 annually through ticketed garden tours. Highgrove Gardens also hosts educational workshops on traditional and endangered crafts such as millinery, embroidery, and woodworking.