His Majesty plants The King’s Rose at The Castle and Gardens of Mey as The King begins summer break in Scotland
At The King’s Foundation, we are delighted to share new photographs of our Royal Founding President, His Majesty The King, at The Castle and Gardens of Mey as His Majesty begins his summer break in Scotland. During His Majesty’s time at the Castle, The King planted The King’s Rose in the gardens developed by his grandmother Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
Traditionally, The King spends the first week of August at the Castle every year, coinciding with The Queen Mother’s birthday.
The Castle and Gardens of Mey in Caithness, Scotland, is managed and run by The King’s Foundation, His Majesty’s nature and sustainability charity. The King’s Foundation oversees a range of green spaces with personal significance to The King, including The Castle and Gardens of Mey, which once belonged to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
During His Majesty’s visit, The King’s Rose, which was cultivated by David Austin Roses in partnership with The King’s Foundation and named in His Majesty’s honour, was added to the Castle’s Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden.
As part of the collaboration with David Austin Roses, £2.50 from the sale of each rose is donated to support the work of The King’s Foundation to build sustainable communities and transform lives. The King’s Rose has also been planted at King’s Foundation sister sites, Dumfries House in Ayrshire and Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire.
The Castle of Mey was one of the beloved residences of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who purchased the castle in 1952. The Queen Mother typically spent three weeks at the castle in August each year. His Majesty The King, who visited from a young age, continues this tradition, and stays at the Castle each summer.
This is not the first time that The King has added to gardens. In August 2005, Their Majesties The King and Queen, as the then Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, planted two sycamore trees at the front of the Castle.
The Castle and Gardens of Mey attracts visitors from around the world every year to enjoy guided tours of the castle, explore the gardens and experience private dining at the Royal Residence.