King Charles sees 11 of his 12 'overwhelmed and underpaid' gardeners quit Highgrove over demands
Share this @internewscast.com

An enormous departure has affected King Charles’s expansive Highgrove estate, as 11 out of his 12 permanent gardeners have resigned over the past year amid claims of a toxic work atmosphere.

The frustrated employees, who alleged they felt “overwhelmed and underpaid,” submitted their resignations after growing more and more disenchanted with the monarch’s “demands,” reports The Sunday Times.

The concerning new report reveals that among the 11 gardeners who quit are two heads of gardens and a deputy head gardener, all of whom departed within the last year.

The mass resignations followed hot on the heels of the departure of one staffer, who had worked for Charles for decades.

Another quit when he failed his probation after revealing insufficient knowledge about a particular type of flower, reportedly losing the king’s trust.

“Don’t put that man in front of me again,” Charles said of the staffer, according to the report.

The Highgrove estate, which Charles had purchased in 1980, has also been rocked by a slew of toxic workplace complaints from vexed workers.

A recurring complaint was low wages, with insiders claiming that in March 2022, three gardeners earned $11.98 per hour (the minimum wage), whilst two others were on $12.78 per hour.

In late 2023, one gardener complained that the entire staff was “overwhelmed, under-resourced and constantly struggling to fulfill the king’s requests.”

The staffer claimed that some workers had sustained physical injuries trying to keep up with increasing demands, adding that morale had been at an all-time low.

“There is little management of HMTK [His Majesty the King’s] expectations, and I know I would not be allowed to say we are understaffed,” the complaint read, according to the outlet.

It’s said that the king issues a myriad of instructions to staffers during his morning walkabout on the estate. He then expects his orders to be completed before his next return.

Staffers claimed that the king sends detailed notes in “thick red ink” to garden staff, with memos that are “strikingly specific and emotional.”

Charles also allegedly corrects grammar and underlines incorrect letters in staff reports, and requires his team to address him as “Your Majesty” at all times.


Follow along with The Post’s live blog on everything you need to know about the British royal family.


“There was anger boiling at the surface, very impatient, no politeness at all,” one gardener alleged.

Following the complaints, the King’s Foundation has since commissioned WorkNest, an independent HR consultancy, to investigate the claims.

The probe has since discovered evidence of “staff shortages” and “poor” management practice, confirming that pay was “an issue for recruitment and retention.”

According to the outlet, the report recommended “management training for all managers,” as well as “mental health support and counseling” for all employees, in addition to a pay review.

What’s more, the estate has since removed the “Head of Gardens” role, instead appointing a “Head Gardener” following the mass exodus.

One of the king’s most-trusted advisers and the current executive director of Highgrove, Constantine “Costa” Innemée, has been named in the staff complaints as instructing his employees to prioritize the king’s demands, no matter how difficult.

“If the King wanted a plant to be moved from A to B but the gardener’s professional opinion was that it would die as a consequence, Innemée’s position would be to insist on it anyway,” one former gardener alleged.

Despite generating more than $8 million in turnover last financial year — higher than any other royal residence — the gardens continue to operate with minimal resources, The Post understands.

The Post has reached out to Highgrove and Buckingham Palace for comment.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Billionaire’s Son Peter Goodwin Reportedly Had Affair with Nanny, Requested Divorce on Christmas Day

A wealthy heir in the bowling industry reportedly engaged in an affair…
Man poisons himself after taking ChatGPT's dietary advice

Man Accidentally Poisons Himself Following AI Dietary Suggestions

(NewsNation) — A 60-year-old man wound up in the hospital after seeking…
Rabbit with tentacles and horns growing from its head.

Shock as rabbits are seen with ‘tentacles and horns on their heads’; public urged to keep distance

RABBITS with disturbing horn-like and tentacle-style growths on their heads have sparked…
3 dead in Austin Target shooting on Research Boulevard, near Ohlen

Tragic Shooting Incident at Austin Target on Research Boulevard Leaves Three Dead

The suspect has been taken into custody, according to police. AUSTIN, Texas…
Streamwood house fire on Green Meadows Boulevard leaves 2 dead, 1 critically injured, authorities say

Two Die and One Severely Hurt in House Fire on Green Meadows Blvd in Streamwood, Authorities Report

In STREAMWOOD, Ill. (WLS), a tragic event unfolded as a fire tore…
Arizona police report details dark timeline to 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste tragic death

Arizona Police Reveal Disturbing Timeline Leading to 10-Year-Old Rebekah Baptiste’s Tragic Death

Newly released police documents have provided additional insights into the tragic final…
American tourist shot and killed in Caribbean vacation hotspot: 'Left an unfillable void in our lives'

Tragic Loss: American Tourist Fatally Shot in Caribbean Vacation Destination

A tourist from New York was killed while visiting Puerto Rico for…
Small aircraft plummets into Georgia neighborhood, leaves 3 injured

Light aircraft crashes into Georgia neighborhood, injuring 3

A late-night training flight ended in chaos when a small plane plummeted…

Concerning Sign from Influencer Emilie Kiser’s Dog That Left Her Husband Uneasy Before Their Son’s Tragic Drowning

GUTWRENCHING details continue to emerge in the drowning death of influencer Emilie…
Anonymous tip helps JSO arrest suspect in 2024 murder at Jacksonville arcade

Anonymous Tip Leads to Arrest in 2024 Jacksonville Arcade Murder

This marks the 136th homicide case that a First Coast Crime Stoppers…
Chicago weather forecast today: Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning impacting Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, IN counties

Today’s Chicago Weather Alert: Severe Thunderstorm and Flash Flood Warnings Affecting Cook, DuPage, Will, and Lake Counties

CHICAGO (WLS) — A Flood Watch and Severe Thunderstorm Warning have been…
Female police officer leaps into water, fights career criminal before making arrest, video shows

Female cop dives into water, tackles seasoned criminal, and secures arrest, video reveals

A dramatic video captured a female New York City police officer diving…