King Charles makes the most of life outside the hustle and bustle of London, but his winter break at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk isn’t just about quiet walks and snow-covered lawns, it also shows his passion for long-term visions for the estate.
On January 7, the official Sandringham Instagram account delighted followers with stunning images of the estate’s gardens covered in snow, giving a fresh face to the 60-acre landscape that the king has painstakingly revived.
The snowy scenes highlight the estate’s Topiary Garden, the newest addition unveiled in 2023 as a place of reflection and biodiversity, designed to withstand changing weather patterns and offer peace to visitors when the gardens reopen to the public each spring.
Since taking on the management of the Sandringham estate in 2017, Charles has spearheaded 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 blended tradition with sustainable design, adding features such as the Topiary Garden, Lower Maze Garden and Sundial Garden that reflect his lifelong enthusiasm for plants, symmetry and environmental stewardship.
The inspiration runs deep, many aspects of Sandringham’s decorative layout stemming from Charles’ 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 that stretch back to the 1860s and earlier, evolving through generations of monarchs and designers.
But it is Charles’ recent stewardship that has brought a renewed sense of purpose and symbolic design to the space.
From March to October, the doors and paths reopen, inviting the public to explore an estate that reflects not only royal heritage, but a monarch’s enduring love of the natural world.
