Four decades have passed since Alan Titchmarsh first crossed paths with King Charles, but one thing remains steadfast – their shared passion for nature.
The celebrity gardener explained that Charles surprised him with his commitment to horticulture, even after he became monarch following the death of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, in 2022.
"We first met in 1986," he told Radio Times. "I’ve walked around his gardens with him on many occasions, but when he acceded to the throne, I was prepared for horticulture not to occupy quite the same place in his heart and daily life. But nothing could have been further from the truth.
"The King has done more for horticulture, gardening, natural history and the environment than anybody else, apart from David Attenborough," he added.
Despite his packed royal schedule and his recent health struggles, after being diagnosed with cancer in 2024, Charles continues to showcase his "mind-blowing" energy, fuelled by taking "solace" in gardening behind closed doors.
© Getty ImagesOne of his passion projects is Highgrove House, the private residence in Gloucestershire he bought in 1980, where he has transformed the 15-acre gardens from a neglected landscape into an organic haven.
"His energy is mind-blowing. He’s enthusiastic, but also pragmatic. The King gets stuck in – he doesn’t just say something should be done, he instigates it," Alan concluded.
Health benefits
It's long been known that gardening triggers the happy hormone, serotonin, which has a relaxing effect on our mental health. Author Claire Stares previously explained exactly how this happens.
"Gardening offers many opportunities to engage in activities which can redirect our mental focus away from anxiety-inducing stimuli and negative thoughts," Claire wrote in an exclusive extract from her book Feel Good Gardening. "Rhythmic, repetitive motions have a meditative effect, calming the brain."Tasks like mowing the lawn, raking leaves, digging, seed sowing and weeding can soothe the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for triggering the body’s fight-or-flight response and, when overactive, can cause anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia," she said.
Climate achievements
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetRenowned for his lifelong commitment to the environment, King Charles has championed ecological causes for decades.
A recipient of Harvard Medical School's 2007 Global Environmental Citizen Award, His Majesty continues to champion the natural world today. As Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), he recently spearheaded a joint partnership with his own charity, The King's Foundation, for the 2026 Curious Garden.
© The King’s Foundation / Courtney Louise PhotographyDesigned by Frances Tophill for the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, it is championed by the monarch and King’s Foundation ambassadors David Beckham and Alan Titchmarsh.
According to the King's Foundation website, features include an oak building representing a 'museum of curiosities', seven raised plant beds as a nod to David's England number 7 shirt, and Delphiniums celebrating King Charles III being Patron of the Delphinium Society.
