Throughout her life, Balmoral—the royal family’s countryside estate in Scotland where they traditionally spend late summers—was widely known to be Queen Elizabeth’s most cherished retreat.
For someone who had traveled extensively around the globe, that admiration carried weight. Balmoral, in fact, is where she passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. Her son, King Charles, is now honoring both her and his grandmother, the Queen Mother, in the estate’s gardens.
Last summer, Charles opened the gates of Balmoral to the public, and now his former gardener is revealing the details behind the “secret tribute” the King has crafted for both of these influential women, according to Marie Claire.
The Balmoral gardens have recently undergone a transformation, featuring the addition of a thistle maze, a Celtic-themed maze garden, and a variety of new topiaries, trees, and shrubs. Jack Stooks, who served as a senior gardener at Charles’ Highgrove estate for over two decades, shared why these updates hold “such a personal meaning” for the monarch, Marie Claire reported.
“Mazes are very special to Charles, as he used to love playing in the maze at Sandringham when he was young,” Stooks explained, referencing the royal estate in Norfolk where the family traditionally gathers for Christmas. “His grandmother, the late Queen Mother, used to speak fondly about her memories of him in the maze and how much he loved the topiary.”
A deep admirer of nature, Charles wanted to bring a touch of that childhood nostalgia to Balmoral’s grounds, according to Stooks. “It’s likely Charles wanted to bring some of the nostalgia of his childhood back to the Balmoral gardens and make it a place of fun and excitement for future generations. Balmoral was also a very special residence for the Queen, so Charles will want others to enjoy a place that was so special for his mother,” he said.
“It’s like a tribute to her,” he added.
Balmoral’s grounds officially reopen to the public on April 1 and will remain open daily until August 10, when the royal family is expected to return for their annual late summer stay. Just as Charles played a key role in opening Balmoral to the public for the first time, he also spearheaded the changes to its gardens, Stooks confirmed.
“Charles has an amazing work ethic and he’s very hands on,” he noted, adding that the King is known for paying attention to every detail. “It helps that he has a love for gardening and greenery,” Stooks added, saying Charles “wants to make the grounds as inviting as possible for everyone.”
Due to Scotland’s harsh winters, Stooks admitted the estate can look “quite bare,” but pointed out that “the topiary in the mazes have an evergreen appeal.”
Paying close attention to details, Charles also ensured Scotland’s national flower, the thistle, was included in the new garden designs. “Despite being English, Charles knows how important it is to pay tribute to Balmoral’s rich history in the Highlands,” Stooks said.