Toxic Work Culture and Low Pay: 11 Gardeners Quit King Charles' Estate
A mass walkout hits King Charles’ Highgrove Estate as 11 of 12 gardeners resign, citing toxic culture, poor pay, and excessive royal demands. HR report confirms issues.
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A mass walkout has rocked King Charles III’s Highgrove Estate, as 11 of the 12 full-time gardeners resigned over the past year, citing a toxic work environment, low wages, and the King's demanding expectations.
According to reports, the staff described themselves as “overwhelmed and underpaid,” with two head gardeners and the deputy head among those who left. The tipping point appears to have been the resignation of a long-serving employee, followed by another gardener who failed his probation - allegedly due to insufficient knowledge about a specific flower. One source quoted the King as saying, “Don’t bring that man before me again.”
Pay was a core grievance: in March 2022, three gardeners reportedly earned just $11.98/hour, while two others made $12.78/hour. Former head gardener Jack Stokes, who left after 20 years, said the job left him “burned out.”
One formal complaint filed in late 2023 claimed the entire team was “understaffed, under-resourced, and constantly struggling to meet the King's increasing demands.” Some reportedly sustained physical injuries trying to keep up, with morale at an all-time low.
King Charles, who bought Highgrove in 1980, is said to personally supervise the grounds during his morning walks, expecting tasks to be completed before his next round. Gardeners received notes in “thick red ink” filled with “emotional and specific instructions,” including corrections of spelling mistakes and marked-up staff memos. One gardener said there was a “simmering anger beneath the surface,” calling the environment impatient and devoid of basic courtesy.
In response, the King’s Foundation hired WorkNest, an independent HR firm, to investigate. The firm confirmed staffing shortages, poor management practices, and issues around pay retention. They recommended managerial training, mental health support, and wage reviews.
One figure repeatedly mentioned was Konstantin Costa Inemy, Highgrove’s executive director and one of the King’s closest advisers. Staff claimed he insisted on fulfilling the King’s wishes regardless of professional judgment. “If the King wanted a plant moved - even if it was doomed - the directive was to do it anyway,” said one former employee.
Despite the turmoil, Highgrove’s gardens generated over $8 million last year, yet operated on minimal resources. Jack Stokes defended the monarch, saying the King delegates responsibility to the Foundation, and “if they mismanage, that’s not on him.”
The King’s Foundation responded, asserting that employee wellbeing is taken “very seriously”, noting high satisfaction scores in annual surveys and a lower-than-average staff turnover. Since 2022, operating profits have doubled, a new educational facility was launched, and over 40,000 visitors were welcomed.