11 Out of 12 Gardeners Quit King Charles’s Estate Over ‘Hellish’ Work Conditions

Things aren’t looking so rosy at King Charles’s beloved Highgrove estate. According to a bombshell report, 11 out of 12 full-time gardeners have quit in the past year, citing a toxic workplace, poor pay, and overwhelming demands directly linked to the monarch himself.

The exodus included two heads of gardens and a deputy head gardener, leaving just one full-time gardener behind at the king’s Gloucestershire retreat. Insiders say the remaining staff were “burned out and underpaid,” with some earning just above minimum wage—even as the estate brought in over $8 million in revenue last year.

At the heart of the unrest? Claims that King Charles micromanages the gardening team with intense detail, allegedly scribbling specific, often emotional instructions in thick red ink and correcting grammar in staff reports. Workers say he issues a laundry list of orders during his morning strolls—and expects them completed by the time he returns.

One particularly shocking anecdote: a new hire reportedly failed his probation after not knowing enough about a flower variety. According to the report, Charles allegedly told aides, “Don’t put that man in front of me again.”

Complaints of mental and physical exhaustion, workplace stress, and unmanageable expectations have piled up. One whistleblower even claimed staff suffered injuries trying to meet the king’s gardening requests, while morale hit “an all-time low.”

Behind the scenes, Highgrove’s executive director, Constantine “Costa” Innemée, was also named in complaints for allegedly forcing staff to carry out the king’s wishes—even when they believed those choices could damage the plants. “If the King wanted a plant moved and it would die, Innemée would insist on doing it anyway,” one former gardener said.

Following the uproar, the King’s Foundation launched an investigation through an independent HR consultancy. The review confirmed “staff shortages,” “poor management,” and low pay as key issues. Recommendations included pay reviews, mental health support, and mandatory management training.

In the wake of the scandal, the role of “Head of Gardens” has been dissolved and replaced with a new “Head Gardener” position—part of a broader effort to reset the estate’s culture.

Still, not everyone is pointing the finger directly at King Charles. His former senior gardener Jack Stooks, who spent two decades at Highgrove, defended the monarch, telling The Post that responsibility lies with the foundation’s management. “I think the stance towards the King is unfair,” he said. “If there are problems, the King can now fix these—and I’m sure that’s exactly what he’ll now be doing.”

In a statement, the King’s Foundation said it “takes staff welfare extremely seriously” and highlighted that its turnover rate is below the national average. The foundation also pointed to recent successes, including increased profits and the launch of a new education center teaching traditional gardening skills.