The Duchess of Edinburgh lives in a house dreams are made of with her husband Prince Edward. The lesser-pictured Bagshot Park is located in Surrey and the Grade II-listed residence is made up of 120 grand rooms. Incredible highlights include an Indian billiard room and a gorgeous conservatory overlooking the 51-acre grounds.
This summer, the Duchess flexed her green fingers and collaborated on a garden design for the Royal Windsor Flower Show with the help of landscape gardener Alan Williams - and this process has inspired a potential transformation at her own home.
Ahead of the show, which took place in June, Alan spoke to Good Housekeeping and revealed a specific garden feature that Sophie herself is longing for.
© Getty Images"We weren't sure if we were gonna do the potting shed. I sneakily included it on the mood board within the final presentation of ideas because I knew she was gonna love it," confessed Alan.
He then revealed: "As soon as she saw it, she absolutely fell in love with it," adding that the royal told him, "This is what I would really love at home."
Green-fingered royals
King Charles has to take top spot for the most horticulturally inclined royal, with a reputation for getting his hands dirty to create beautiful gardens. The monarch is incredibly proud of the gardens he has curated at his countryside home, Highgrove and part of the grounds have even won an award. Speaking to the Royal Horticultural Society, he said: "My enduring hope is that those who visit the garden may find something to inspire, excite, fascinate or soothe them."
© Tim GrahamBeyond Highgrove, Charles cares immensely for other royal gardens in the grounds of Sandringham, Windsor and his own private home, Clarence House. The monarch has a keen eco focus, switching to environmentally friendly approaches where possible. The gardening teams at each royal home are fully briefed on reusing, recycling and sustainability.
© GettyPrincess Kate has also been known to get stuck into some gardening, famously refusing gloves numerous times on royal engagements to get her hands into the soil. In 2019, the royal co-designed a "Back to Nature" garden for the Chelsea Flower Show. She's also a big fan of championing nature from a children's learning perspective. "The Princess of Wales strongly believes that spending time outdoors plays a pivotal role in children’s future health and happiness, building foundations that last through childhood and over a lifetime," the official royal website reads.
