King Charles makes the first major change to Sandringham since the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Shovels are currently digging the earth on the beloved striking green in front of the Norfolker Estate. This is how the monarch puts his stamp on the property.
Norfolk – King Charles III (74) has already begun the transformation of Sandringham – for the first time since the death of the Queen (96, † 2022) in September he is making his mark on the Norfolk estate. If Elizabeth II was a fan of majestic calm and vision, her son and heir to the throne apparently prefers other qualities. Currently, digger shovels are digging into the large lawn on the west side of Sandringham House, forever changing the view of the castle.
Would Queen Elizabeth II have liked that? Topiary garden instead of an unobstructed view of the castle
The new face of the late Queen’s beloved residence is due to be ready for Christmas time. Work is progressing rapidly so the gardens can open to the public in mid-May. Every Christmas, the monarch would gather her family at the Norfolk Estate – a tradition King Charles hopes to continue. But apparently there were solid reasons for changing the traditionally free-standing west lawn.
The new facility should not only be “optically interesting, but also improve the biodiversity in this area”. In addition to a gravel path allowing visitors to explore the garden, a number of new plants suited to harsh weather conditions will be added. One could almost think that he prefers plants to people. Because with the new view, parts of the memory are also lost.
A pub for compatriots and visitors
Under the Royal Plans for the revitalization of Sandringham, the vacant Victorian building is to be leased out to be converted into a pub, with ownership rights retained.
Rental company Landles’ website advertises the premises as a “unique opportunity for investment and refurbishment for a new occupant and operation as a public house with restaurant attached”.
Queen Elizabeth II loved the seclusion at Sandringham for many years after a year of hustle and bustle in the heart of London. In his inaugural speech, King Charles promised a more cosmopolitan monarchy. The conversions at Sandringham are not the first of their kind. During the Second World War the distinctive west lawn was used for harvesting – now this area of the garden will have a decorative aspect.
“The current lawn has been impacted by warm weather and excessive rainfall”
Not only the Queen loved Sandringham, but also Prince Philip (99, † 2021) liked to spend time in Norfolk and lived there most of the time after his retirement from public life. Prince William (40) and Princess Kate’s (41) country estate Anmer Hall is only a 15-minute drive away, and their children George (9), Charlotte (7) and Louise (4) are likely to have romped across the open lawn, which the Queen has thousands of times on horseback on one of her rides.
However, the urgency for change is evident in the statement: “In recent years, the current lawn has been adversely affected by warm weather and excessive rainfall.” A new pub is also planned. The plan is to breathe new life into the late Queen’s former social club after it closed two years ago. How beautiful all of this can look King Charles already proved this with his gardening and building projects of the Highgrove estate. In detail, Charles III. but far-sightedness in this project, even if he blocked the view at first. Sources used: hellomagazine.com, sandringhamestate.co.uk, Instagram @sandringham1870
