Highgrove

[Osipi]

Read more: Join us for a festive lunch at Highgrove* | Daily Mail Online

Ut oh! Quick! Hide the pens and paper and the silver. Its the Daily Fail readers coming!

 

[Curryong]

Yes, they'll probably scrawl graffiti on a wall somewhere inside, with a red crayon!

 

[MARG]

Nice reading the speculation on the future of Highgrove. These days it is still in use and is even used for cultural events. Music has become part of the place.

As to future occupants, I cannot see William and Catherine forgoing Anmrr Hall and I think it may take extreme measures to move them from their London base, Apartment 1A Kensington Palace.

 

[Missjersey]

Rudolph are you treating?

 

[Pranter]

I forget..how big are their KP apartments?


LaRae

 

[Lady Nimue]

Question just came to me: does Charles still use Highgrove as a weekend retreat? He has Clarance House and his place in Scotland, plus he travels so extensively. Has Highgrove gone it's own way these days, on automatic, as a tourist attraction? Anyone know?

 

[MARG]

Charles still uses it and Harry and Megan were rumoured to have spent some time there during their courtship. Terrific place to be if they did as Charles and Camilla only spend time there when they have a long weekend or some such.

 

[Countessmeout]

Question just came to me: does Charles still use Highgrove as a weekend retreat? He has Clarance House and his place in Scotland, plus he travels so extensively. Has Highgrove gone it's own way these days, on automatic, as a tourist attraction? Anyone know?

As I understand it, Clarence house is their 'working home'. Birkhall they spend new years at and some time in the summer when in Scotland. Highgrove is their main country retreat.

I know most people seem to think that 'the long country walks' Harry and Meghan took were at Windsor. I have a feeling some if not many may have been at Highgrove. Far more privacy from any press then Windsor since they kept low key and were never spotted. And it's Harry's childhood home, he'd likely wish to share it with her.

 

[Osipi]

Highgrove not being in use by Charles would be like a day without sunshine.

That's his bolthole. Its his sanctuary. Its the place he most likes to call home. Every inch of the Highgrove estate is perfectly attuned to Charles the man from the wildflowers to the Stumpery.

 

[Lady Nimue]

Thank you, All, for the insights.

 

[Denville]

I've never heard that he was not using it. I thnk its his favourite home..

 

[Curryong]

Highgrove is also convenient to Raymill, Camilla's home. I don't think Charles would want to be miles away. I agree that Highgrove is Charles's sanctuary. I don't know how often he gets to relax there now though, as his workload has increased even more in recent times.

 

[muriel]

Question just came to me: does Charles still use Highgrove as a weekend retreat? He has Clarance House and his place in Scotland, plus he travels so extensively. Has Highgrove gone it's own way these days, on automatic, as a tourist attraction? Anyone know?

My understanding is that Highfrove is used every weekend that they are not in Scotland or abroad. it is also used when they are not doing engagements in London or elsewhere in the country.

 

[Denville]

My understanding is that Highfrove is used every weekend that they are not in Scotland or abroad. it is also used when they are not doing engagements in London or elsewhere in the country.

He pretty much lived there during the later Diana years, while D had the London apartments.. so I am sure he still spends as much time there as he can

 

[Osipi]

Highgrove is a place where Charles has built it from the ground up. Literally. This is most likely the closest thing he has to calling "home" and he's done wonders with the place. Its not just a place to hang his hat but an ongoing love affair with the land. Between Birkhall and Highgrove, I would bet that these two are where Charles feels the most comfortable.

Its not just his home though. He's built it up to continue on to be a profitable business for the Duchy of Cornwall. Not only did Duchy Originals start there which is now a very profitable business but there are also tours and a restaurant at Highgrove.

This man is one shrewd businessman.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/roya...als-Waitrose-organic-food-sustainable-farming

 

[Missjersey]

So true Osipi. It’s remarkable what Charles has done with Highgrove. I always think he’s happiest there, just a man in his home.

 

[Osipi]

So true Osipi. It’s remarkable what Charles has done with Highgrove. I always think he’s happiest there, just a man in his home.

The heck with being in his house. I'd think it'd be more fitting to say he's happiest when digging in his gardens. Being at one with the Earth.

 

[Missjersey]

Happy gardening!

 

[wyevale]

Before the marriage in 1981 the Prince of Wales was offered at least two houses as residences in the Country -

Chevening House, Kent .

Built between 1617 and 1630 to a design reputedly by Inigo Jones and greatly extended after 1717.
Formerly the principal seat of the Earls Stanhope, under the Chevening Estate Act 1959 (amended 1987) the house and estate are held in trust by the Board of Trustees of the Chevening Estate to serve as a furnished country residence for a person nominated by the Prime Minister, so qualified by being a member of the Cabinet or a descendant of King George VI..

This magnificent House and estate , conveniently placed for both London and Sandringham was rejected by the Prince of Wales, reportedly because his late Wife [and then fiance] didn't care for it...

Chevening is now used as the Country residence of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, currently Mr Boris Johnson.

The other House, Belton House in Lincolnshire, is of even greater Architectural and Historic significance, built for the Brownlow family in 1680
Belton has been described as a compilation of all that is finest of Carolean architecture, the only truly vernacular style of architecture that England had produced since the Tudor period. The house has also been described as the most complete example of a typical English country house, and is now in the care of the National Trust.

It's location, near Grantham in Lincolnshire is fairly remote from London, hence its rejection by the Prince.

Either of these Houses would be a far more fitting residence for the Heir to the throne [imo],than Highgrove, which [prior to the alterations made by the PoW] was fit only for a 'Country Parson' to live in], and is of considerable architectural mediocrity..

Pictures of both these wonderful Houses are easily to be found on 'Google Images', but non-copyrighted aren't easy to track down, so I haven't posted any images here.

 

[Curryong]

According to the article below Charles was having second thoughts about Chevening as early as April 1978 (and probably before) and finally rejected it in 1980, before he began his relationship with Diana.

Chevening House, Kent

 

[Lady Nimue]

Before the marriage in 1981 the Prince of Wales was offered at least two houses as residences in the Country -

Chevening House, Kent .

This magnificent House and estate , conveniently placed for both London and Sandringham was rejected by the Prince of Wales, reportedly because his late Wife [and then fiance] didn't care for it...

According to the article below Charles was having second thoughts about Chevening as early as July 1978 (and probably before) and finally rejected it in 1980, before he began his relationship with Diana.

Chevening House, Kent

Thank you, Curryong, for the article. That is what I had always understood, that Diana was never part of rejecting Chevening nor choosing Highgrove, though she was part of decorating Highgrove, since by the time Charles was doing so she had become his fiancé in January 1981.

 

[Pranter]

Right..Highgrove was already purchased and Charles took Diana to see it even before they got engaged and ask for her input on decoration.


LaRae

 

[Osipi]

That's what I remember too. It was Charles asking her for input on decorating that led Diana to believe that things may be getting serious.

 

[Gawin]

Yes, according to a biography of Charles published in 1979 - HRH: The Man Who Will Be King by Tim Heald & Mayo Mous - Buckingham Palace had already announced Charles had no plans to move into Chevening. He didn't become involved with Diana until 1980, a year after the book was published.

 

[US Royal Watcher]

I knew that there are tours of the Highgrove garden, I didn't realize that they also serve food (and champaign!). I probably won't get to the UK this summer, but I hope I have a chance to tour Highgrove at some point. https://www.forbes.com/sites/cather...es-highgrove-estate-this-summer/#7751776e5648

 

[AdmirerUS]

Highgrove is a model for making money off of anything it can. I know that sounds cynical - but it is not how I mean it.

Here in the US we have a thing called Agri-tourism. It relates to farmers who also use their property to generate tourist income. So a common example is any winery who opens a tasting room and makes money off of of that enterprise. Or a pick-your-own pumpkin patch that also charges for hay rides, crafts, animal petting zoos, corn maze expeditions, etc.

I've always admired Charles and his staff for the many ways they have found to wring cash out of the property. It is a sensible approach to sustainability.

 

[Countessmeout]

A lot of estates, including the ones lived in, do things like open their gardens to the public. Host events and so on. It costs a fortune to keep those estates running and in good repair. It makes sense that Charles actually turn his estate into a business to generate revenue, and not just use the Duchy to pay the bills on it.

Farms don't make huge profits. Unless you have a massive farm and you are more of an industry then a farm. The season when they make money can also be small. That is why many farms in North America have come up with ways of making money as well like hay rides and such.

Charles knows Highgrove, and the rest of Cornwall, will pay for his heir and so on for generations to come. He is simply building up that wealth.

It also helps charity. The money from his 'highgarden shops', the products they sell, goes to his charitable trust.

 

[lyndaW]

I wonder how William will do (financially) when he takes over everything

 

[muriel]

I wonder how William will do (financially) when he takes over everything

I suspect quite well. The Duchy has access to some very good specialist advisers who will be able to help him make sure the Managers of the Duchy are doing their best.

 

[eya]

A video for the Royal Gardens at Highgrove taken at the beginning of autumn last year

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=270427297105682