Friends and former staff of King Charles have rallied to his defense following a media report that alleged he was difficult to work for at his Highgrove estate.
The report, based on interviews with eight individuals said to be royal gardeners or insiders with detailed knowledge of the estate, cited discontent within the gardening team.
One of the most talked about claims was that the King allegedly chastised a gardener for not knowing the name of a flower.
However, those close to the monarch have disputed this version of events, saying the situation was far more nuanced.
"He was not being beastly to this man," a source familiar with the incident told the Mail.
“The fact is he was ambushed over a matter, and it was this that he was cross about.”
The real issue, they explained, was that the gardener had approached him with a request to hire a friend who lacked any gardening experience something that understandably raised concerns.
Supporters say the King remains deeply committed to the estate and its staff, and insist that the portrait painted in the media is far from the truth.
One detail drawing attention involves the removal of ragwort, an invasive plant reportedly flagged for clearance from a section of the garden not maintained by the main team.
While The Sunday Times suggested this was an overreaction, friends of King Charles strongly disagree.
“It is an invasive and noxious weed and hardly seems unreasonable to request its removal,” said one ally, pointing out the plant’s potential danger to animals.
As King, Charles now divides his time across several royal estates, including Sandringham and Balmoral, where he remains closely involved with the gardens.
Ongoing cancer treatment has also understandably reduced his presence at Highgrove, once his horticultural haven during his time as Prince of Wales.
"He sees the gardens as an important part of his legacy," a close friend shared.
Some royal watchers believe the current turbulence may be linked to the 2021 departure of Charles’s longtime aide, Fawcett, who resigned amid the "cash for honours" controversy.
Fawcett was known for keeping operations tightly managed and complaints tightly contained.
"Michael would never have allowed the complaints from the gardeners to reach Charles’s ears because he would have handled them himself," said one former associate, suggesting the absence of such gatekeeping may have fueled the recent unrest.
