King Charles is making the most of life beyond the bustle of London, but his winter retreat at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk isn’t just about quiet walks and snow-covered gardens – it also shows his passion for the estate’s long-term vision.
On January 7, Sandringham’s official Instagram account delighted its followers with stunning images of the estate’s snow-covered gardens that give a new face to the 60-acre landscape the King has been meticulously reviving.
The snowy scenes highlight the estate’s Topiary Garden, the latest addition opening in 2023 as a place of reflection and biodiversity, designed to withstand changing weather patterns and offer peace to visitors once the gardens reopen to the public each spring.
Since taking over management of the Sandringham estate in 2017, Charles has led a remarkable restoration of both its gardens and wider parkland, bringing back to life landscapes that had been neglected for decades.
In doing so, he has combined tradition with sustainable design, adding features such as the Topiary Garden, the Lower Maze Garden and the Sundial Garden that reflect his lifelong enthusiasm for plants, symmetry and environmental stewardship.
The inspiration runs deep: many aspects of Sandringham’s ornamental design come from Charles’s own childhood memories, including the yew topiary reminiscent of those planted by Queen Alexandra in the early 20th century.
Historically, the estate’s gardens have roots dating back to the 1860s and earlier, and evolved through generations of monarchs and designers.
But it is Charles’ recent management that has brought a renewed sense of purpose and symbolic design to the space.
From March to October, the gates and pathways will open again, inviting the public to explore a property that reflects not only the royal heritage but a monarch’s enduring love of the natural world.
