King Charles loves a hedge. We knew this. Following a Freedom of Information inquiry, it has been revealed how much the British taxpayer is shelling out to keep the royal perennials perky. Since 2020, the bill for royal gardens has hit a staggering £282 million ($376 million). That breaks down to about £129,000 ($172,000) every single day.
While many gardeners are debating if they can justify the price tag of that new bag of organic mulch, the Crown Estate and Royal Parks drop the equivalent of a 4 bedroom, 2 bath house in Omaha daily. Expenses have more than doubled in just four years. The budget went from a $36 million bill in 2021 to a projected $89 million in 2025. That’s a massive jump. And it turns out that maintaining 5,000 acres of Windsor Great Park or the geometric rose bushes at the Castle doesn’t come cheap.
The High Cost of Highgrove (and Beyond)
King Charles is the world’s most famous organic gardener, but his green thumb requires some serious gold. Estimates suggest Highgrove House costs between $930,000 and $1.1 million annually just to keep the topiary in shape. Those carefully snipped yew hedges and wildflower meadows don’t just happen. They require a small army of hands pulling weeds.
The upkeep for Windsor Castle’s gardens cost between $2 million to $2.6 million a year. The grounds feature 3,500 perfumed rose bushes and 34 orange trees that were originally a gift from the French King Charles X. Then there’s the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, a favorite of Princess Diana, which costs the Prince and Princess of Wales up to $600,000 a year to keep looking camera-ready.
Steal the Look Without the Sovereign’s Budget
If you don’t have $89 million sitting in the bank this year, you aren’t alone. Most households spend about $400 a year on their outdoor space. But Hillarys gardening expert Luke Newnes says you can still channel that royal energy without the tax-funded budget.
“You might think that spectacular gardens are out of reach on a budget, but gardening doesn’t have to cost a fortune or take up all your time. In fact, many flowers adored by the Royal Family are surprisingly affordable and easy to grow. Take Lily-of-the-valley, for example, which was one of the late Queen Elizabeth’s favourite flowers during the summer months and even featured in her Coronation Bouquet. It’s a fabulous choice if you want something classic without the fuss, and the best part is that they are incredibly low-maintenance,” Newnes says. He also points to Mexican fleabane—a daisy-like flower loved by the Duke of Gloucester—as a cheap win. A pack of seeds costs a few dollars and they’ll spread on their own around patios.
The royals are spending enough on gardens to buy over a million lawnmowers, but the aesthetic is easy to mimic. King Charles recently added a wisteria-covered pergola at Sandringham. As Newnes puts it: “A pergola completely transforms the way you use your garden. It gives you a defined ‘room’ outdoors and draws your eye upwards, which makes the space feel bigger. I love having plants and little decorative accessories around mine—it’s amazing how much difference a few decorations can make.” Your backyard might not have a dedicated staff of six like the Royal Lodge, but with a few bucks and some smart planting, it can look like it does.