King Charles’ Gardener Made an Awkward Mistake After His Coronation — but His Reaction Was Priceless
King Charles’ former gardener recalled a funny early moment when the new monarch was still adjusting to his royal title.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth, Charles immediately stepped into a role that came with far more than a new title. As King, he suddenly had a long list of new responsibilities to take on and live up to the expectations of those around him. However, according to Charles’ former gardener, Charles himself took some time to adjust to the sudden change.
That adjustment even came up unexpectedly with former royal gardener Jack Stooks, who spent more than two decades working at Highgrove. Shortly after Charles became King, Stooks had a run-in with him while dealing with an irrigation leak on the estate. Since Charles has always been particular about avoiding waste, especially with water, the gardeners quickly got to work fixing the problem.
While working on the leak, Stooks was crouched inside a bush when he suddenly heard someone approaching. He soon realized it was Charles himself, which caught him off guard enough to make an awkward mistake. Stooks greeted him as “Your Highness,” only to realize moments later that Charles had become King and that the old form of address no longer applied. Stooks revealed, “As soon as I said it I realized my mistake and panicked, and in the moment ended up swearing.” He immediately apologized and corrected himself by addressing Charles as “Your Majesty.”
However, Charles did not dwell on the mistake for too long. “He just told me it was okay and not to worry. He said he was still getting used to the change in title. He’s a very kind man, and this is just one example of how understanding he is,” the former staff member shared, per Marie Claire.
With Charles taking on the throne, Stooks thought his days at Highgrove might become quite different. The gardens had always been a personal passion for the King, and he was often there whenever his schedule allowed. But even with the demands of his new role, Charles still made time for the estate.
Stooks recalled, “I remember thinking that when Charles became King we wouldn’t see him as much. I thought his relaxed approach to life at home would change, but it didn’t. He still spent a lot of time with the gardeners and was very hands on. That didn’t change even when he took the crown.”
