Gauche celebrity Prince Charles is on the cover of a magazine! I’m clutching my pearls as I write this, I’m so astonished that Charles would do something so dreadful and peasant-y as to actually pose for the cover of a magazine! Where is the wall-to-wall coverage in the Daily Mail about how royals simply do NOT pose for magazine covers or give interviews? What’s that? No one cares when it’s a white royal? Well, I never.
Charles covers the latest issue of Country Life magazine and the cover story focuses on Charles’ takeover of Sandringham (the farm land) in 2017. That’s when Prince Philip retired to Wood Farm, and Charles was suddenly in charge of not just the vast Duchy of Cornwall properties, but the private royal properties like Sandringham. He’s spent the past three years-plus converting Sandringham into a fully organic operation and reintroduced native British cattle into the Sandringham herd. Some quotes from the cover story:
His organic farm life: “Since the beginning of the 1980s, when I first had responsibility for managing some land in my own right at Highgrove, I have wanted to focus on an approach to food production that avoids the impact of the predominant, conventional system of industrialised agriculture, which, it is increasingly clear to see, is having a disastrous effect on soil fertility, biodiversity and animal and human health. It has always seemed to me somewhat logical to embrace a farming system that works with Nature and not against her, thus restoring the lost fertility and carbon-sequestration capacity of the soil on which we rely for our very existence upon this planet.”
He converted Sandringham to full organic in 2017: “At a global scale, it is becoming ever clearer to me that the very future of humanity may depend to a large extent on a mainstream transition to more sustainable farming practices, based on what are known as regenerative, agro-ecological principles, as well as innovative methods of agroforestry — something we are also putting into practice at Sandringham.”
I mean… Charles actually knows his sh-t about all of this. We can criticize him for a lot, but he was way ahead of the curve on farm-to-table food, organic farming and native livestock. He had the time and patience to do it, with significant help, of course. Of course, all of the Duchy farms produce food used in Charles’ Duchy Organics line (the profits of which go to charity, The Prince’s Trust). All of which might be shaken up when Baldemort becomes Prince of Wales. Do you think Willingham the Vaguely Keen will actually be able to keep up all of Charles’ careful arrangements with all of these organic farmers?
Also, Charles’ farming outfit is so ugly, it’s actually kind of amazing.
Cover & IGs courtesy of Country Life.
William is going to fuck it ALL up. Probably on purpose.
Oooh! I never thought about him messing it up on purpose but now ….. you might have something there.
It’s my understanding that Princess Margaret’s son has already agreed to step in and run all these programs. There have been various press articles that William expressed no interest in The Prince’s Trust so Charles has moved on in securing its longevity with Margaret’s son handling it.
Gee that bespoke course at Cambridge on agricultural management that he didn’t finish really helped didn’t it. It was all of 10 weeks long and he bailed….*SIGH*
He’s been named the president or vice president of the new umbrella charity Charles created, The Princes Foundation. That doesn’t give him power over the Duchy of Cornwall or Duchy Organics, because Charles automatically loses that (Duchy of Cornwall) when he becomes king.
Charles is so controlling & so invested in this passion project that I actually can’t see him turning it all over to William without significant controls in place. I think he knows better than anyone that William can’t handle it.
If William is in the market for a new wife, it would probably benefit everyone to seek out a woman with a history of managing a country estate. (No, Carole, the pot farm doesn’t count.)
“Do you think Willingham the Vaguely Keen will actually be able to keep up all of Charles’ careful arrangements with all of these organic farmers?:
Every thing will be fine as David. Linley, Earl of Snowdon is taking over The Prince’s Trust. William will not give a fat rat’s clacker what David does as long as the revenues keep rolling in to the Duchy of Cornwall.
But this is not PT. This is a lucrative commercial endeavor that makes a lot private wealth for Charles.
But…but… Royals are NOT SUPPOSED to PERSONALLY PROFIT off their royalty…. or is that only for POC royals? Guess so.
William will care about one thing only —keeping all the money for himself.
Yes, and taking all of the money that was destined for other charities and patronages, he will steal as well! We saw what he did with Meghans cookbook! A leopard never changes it’s spots….
It’s so weird to see Charles in something that isn’t pristine and perfectly tailored.
I think this is the first time I’ve seen him dressed like this. Regardless of how you feel about him, he is an immaculate dresser. I guess that’s always made him seem older than his years, but even when dressed among other men with suits, you can tell he gets everything fitted exactly and precisely. I can’t recall even seeing him in an ill-fitting suit.
He did not get it off the rack, he probably hired a designer to make an outfit just for him.
Mac, These are his “farming” clothes. I rather think he gets dirty when he’s out looking over his farm(s). At least, that’s the vibe I’m getting.
It looks exactly like something my dad would wear when fixing fences in Oregon.
Regarding the article: can you imagine PW being capable of articulating what Charles did? No, me either.
He may have been a shit husband and a shit dad and a shit father-in-law and a shit grandfather BUT at least he reintroduced native cattle. Meghan was pregnant and suicidal and he did nothing BUT at least he sells expensive organic jam!
Do you think he would start caring about Archie and Lili if he was told love is part of agro-ecological rehabilitation?
I do kinda feel for Charles though, as I understand his deep investment in the land as seeking refuge from a cold family and harsh spotlight. Gardening is healing. But we need to be aware to break cycles, not pass them on.
I think organic stuff is mostly woo.
Life of the rich and privileged. Nothing of worth there!
You said it all Elizabeth. I cannot agree more.
Also, he did nothing about his own flesh and blood family member Archie was likened to a chimpanzee. That’s where his priorities belonged, as father of William and Harry and as a grandparent.
William was transposed for a chimpanzee in a photo as a baby while Diana and Charles were holding him. Front page on a daily newspaper.
Wouldn’t be a better thing though if the future monarch of the isles, the oh so enlightened (cough) organic, coffee enemas cures all prince do something really good and DONATE all food produced on the land to hungry families, to children who have no food on a daily basis on their tables?
Just throwing manure in the wind here.
That’s a fabulous idea! Instead, help out those who you are overseeing, instead of reaping the cash! Many poor families can’t afford organic foods and it’s an excellent way to show children great eating habits to by cooking them as well!
Charles simply does not have the ability to deal with personal emotional mental health problems. Charles could not deal with Diana and Charles could not deal with Harry. There is a reason why Camilla is the love of his life; she is as mentally normal as one can be.
With respect to Archie likened to a chimpanzee, there is very little publicly he could have done. What he did or did not do behind closed conference doors we may never know.
Nah. That’s not going to do. He could have made a simple statement that comparing his grandson to a chimpanzee is racist and unacceptable. That’s the *least* he could have done.
Yeah there is fundamentally “does not have the capability” and then there is “repeatedly absent yourself, stick your head in the sand (or in Wales), don’t bother to even try … and by doing so make clear that it is not a priority of yours to even bother pretending like you CGAFF about trying to make things better or ease the pain of a family member”
Guess which category Charles belongs in?
I never bought into Camilla being the love of his life. When Edward met Wallis he moved heaven and earth to marry her. Charles did not want to marry Camilla when she was still single. She became his mistress. After he outed her he was obligated and made sure he did not have to give up the throne if he married her after both were divorced. I think he would have chosen the throne if he had been given a choice. The “great love story” IMO was concocted to try to excuse these two. I don’t buy into it. I think Camilla had her own issues, she was not “normal” but IMO self centered and selfish and did not care about Diana at all, she even derided her. She was not the traditional mistress, Edward VII would have scolded or banished a mistress who derided Alexandra. Charles had many women . Diana was way too good for him. Harry is great he is not cold like his father, he protects his wife and family. Charles certainly could have opened his mouth and complained about Archie likened to a chimp. Something not right with Charles to behave that way IMO. If it had been Prince George the HEIR, I think Charles would have said something.
All I can think of when seeing this magazine cover is, “Who GAF about you, evil grandpa!” It took me a day to even click on this article. My contempt weighing heavier than my gossipy curiosity. So I finally skimmed it. Sorry Kaiser.
I’m right there with you Mads.
His coat is ripped to shreds! That is true authority, silently testifying to all those other days of checking on fields and hedges. It’s the dog-hair-covered couch turned up to a thousand.
I just can’t hate on his love for farming and sustainability.
I can’t either. But it does serve as a reminder of what a garbage system a hereditary monarchy is. Imagine who and what he would be if he had been allowed to live the life he really wanted. That said, his mother’s long reign has in many ways given him that freedom.
+1
I do think Charles always wanted to be King but he can “play at” being a farmer, . Not saying Charles is not interested in farming but he never ever would have relinquished being the next monarch. I think that is the life he wants very much so.
I remember pictures from a billion years ago when Charles was planting 20 different kinds of thyme at Highgrove. I love his famer outfit. It’s kind of Wodehousian – like Lord Emsworth lovingly tending to the Empress of Blandings.
I feel like it’s the most British I have ever seen him look. *reminds self to reread some Wodehouse this summer.
+1
I agree Kaiser. Charles was ahead of his time with his sustainable/organic farming as well as his environmentalism. He got mocked for it quite a bit but time has proven that he had a point. He also seems to have a genuine passion for this stuff.
He’s a terrible husband (to Diana at least) and a not so great dad but he is at least, a good royal who genuinely likes environmentalism.
The Firm doesnt get it. This type of coverage (photos) would have worked in the 50s and 60s, even the 70s. These days, most ppl under 40 dont give a flying damn about the monarchy, and appropriately see it as a symbol of enduring inequality. My god those photos are trite.
He’s kind of old himself though. I think this type of platform (a country magazine, I guess) would suit a male 70 something year old.
All the Turnip Toffs of every age read County Life and Tatler as they are the bibles of their class as in “Town & Country”.
Tatler is the “Town” and Country Life is the “Country”.
I think it is really interesting to learn more about the work Charles’ is doing. Like he is actually good at and cares about his causes and has done some fantastic work. I think it is such a contrast on how disinterested he is as a parent. Like if he wasn’t in line for the throne, I feel like he is the type to never have wanted children.
Anyway good for farmer Charles. It is nice he is good at something because getting the royal ducks in line is not going great from what we have seen.
I think Charles would have been a gentleman farmer, continued to be a bachelor until Camila was available.
HE also could have married someone other than Camilla. The direction of his life may have changed and he could have met a young woman he loved and preferred to Camilla and Diana. Camilla may have wanted to keep the lifestyle she had with APB or may have never met Charles.
Charles had the same problem as William but worse as the pool of brides was much smaller.
No one really wanted to marry Charles until Diana came along. Camilla first choice was Andrew Parker-Bowles not Charles.
The requirement for 32 year old Charles to marry an aristocratic virgin kind of suggests he was doomed to fail at marriage. He probably would have been a better husband if he was a regular person since those stipulations wouldn’t have been there. I’m kind of wondering if any guy in his position would have gotten it right. (He seems like an ok husband to a Camilla — so whether you’re good at marriage might depend on who you marry as well. )
Considering he’s had to wait around for a crown he won’t get till he’s really old, if ever, I think he’s done well in his charitable work — ie his version of a “professional” life. He could have been worse (.ie totally useless).
He really was very much interested in Anna Wallace who was experienced and he went public with her. She ditched him when Camilla made herself known at a party and danced all the dances with Charles not putting up a charade they were “just friends.” Anna left and according to one book I read, Charles had wanted her back. Amanda Knatchbull was Mountbatten’s Granddaughter and Mountbatten was avid to set up a match between Charles and Amanda. I think Amanda would have said yes, had her grandfather been around to persuade her. Charles dated a lovely young woman Davina Sheffield, ironically he ditched her because of her “experience” (Charles had plenty of experience himself) with a prior boyfriend who went public. Camilla has her own place to retreat to and has low work numbers and unlike Diana, did not have to provide heirs nor have to work hard. Camilla skipped out on tours.
I think the wear and tear of his outfit shows that it’s not just a keenbridge moment for photos but that he actually does get his hands dirty and has for years. Now if he could just give this kind of commitment and time to his son Harry and Harry family, he could almost reach decent status again.
And yes william will f it all up because his ass is lazy and all he cares about is the money not the work behind making the money.
Agreed. And just like Harry with the James Cordon video, he’s showing that, unlike some other royals, he’s really about that life. I don’t know if it’s an intentional dig at Camp Cambridge but it really points to the lack of authentic commitment over there.
Hopefully everything is set up so that others will maintain things. You know Charles isn’t doing the day-to-day running of it anyway. If Charles brings attention to it and then Will reverses things it will look bad for him after Earthshot and spouting environmentalism himself.
There was a fairly hilarious article in the DM or DT or somewhere about that outfit, and how it’s been patched and darned and mended over the 30+ years he’s had it. Doesn’t mend it himself, you understand, there are lovely skilled people who do that kind of thing for one.
Much like the queen and her horses, THIS is what he really wants to do in life. Bummer he has to be king and stuff.
“Bummer he has to be king and stuff” LOL. so true, so true. Charles as gentleman farmer has never been happier
How… woke! How gauche! HOW DARE HE?! *clutches pearls*
An especially designed for him farming outfit most likely.
Piss-poor, heartless father promotes organic farming. Yay.
Your back-to-the-land country PR styling does nothing to diminish the stain of your character, Charly boy.
You are still a piece of absolute sh*t.
Yeah, whatever Charles. He made sure to disappear this week.
Charles always disappear to the countryside (Scotland, Wales) when faniky matters are getting tough. I.e- after Diana died, when their divorce was announced, when Harry privately announced his half in half out plans, after the Sandringham Summit, after his father died, when Diana’s statue is unveiled, etc, etc.
This weak man always runs away from his emotions and actual responsibilities as a family headfigure, future king. He’s the runaway future king. His kingship is gonna be one big failure.
Sorry. Corrections☝:
He disappears.
Family matters.
This is my interpretation of the trap of having a preordained destiny. Left to his own devices, Charles could have lived a quiet life in the country doing whatever it is that farmers do… add piss poor parenting to the mix and this is the result. A gilded cage, is still a cage.
And yes, the man can wear a suit, but this is the best he’s ever looked.
I think Charles would never become a gentleman farmer. From his interview before the Investiture back in 1969 he was clearly committed to his role as Prince of Wales. His heir William never displayed this sort of interest in his future role.
Of course Charles would know about organic dirt. He’s a worm 😂
that outfit is epic. Up there with his forest wizard coat.
This is fully amazing. The royal lands are not an insignificant chunk and regenerative/rewinding/agroforestry is amazing and should be one of the tools we use to halt global warming, capture carbon that’s already in the atmosphere and to get more biodiversity. The article isn’t on the Country Life magazine (and now I want a subscription) but this is bonkers good.
Agree. He’s far from perfect in his personal relations, but his commitment to the environment was way ahead of its time and he has shown real leadership, knowledge and passion on the subject for decades. Far more than any royal in recent memory
Really ? Is the same who always flew by helicopters to lecture ppl about environment ?!lol,he is the kind to fly 125 miles to give speech on reducing aircraft ? Who can take him seriously ?
I would be more impressed if part of his mission in restoring the fertility of the land was to turn the land over ultimately to private citizen small farmers’ ownership. Otherwise, it’s just him stroking his own ego.
No it’s not Charles’s style : he is the kind to vet laws stopping his tenants to buy their homes… and also he is the kind to fly 125 miles to give speech on reducing aircraft …. I don’t think he is serious about organics,global warming…That family is just there for them and when you learn the extent of what they do and who they are friend with…lol,this article is just for show
I don’t know if it’s the angle or the lens, but that cover photo makes his green gloved hand look enormous and out of proportion.
That, combined with the bulky coat makes it appear like he’s a fluffy green muppet with a tiny Charles head plopped on top. And once that image came to mind, I can’t unsee it!
Also, gentlemen farmer, native species, organic farming practices are all well and good (and bully for him that he has the acreage, the staff, the funds, the stability and the time to carry out his plans and let them come to fruition) but that does not erase the damage he’s done to his family, the monarchy and possibly others with his behavior and choices.
‘Also, Charles’ farming outfit is so ugly, it’s actually kind of amazing.’
I was wondering about this, given the shiny new coat he’s wearing in the cover photo. He’s had the other patched together coat for years.
It’s a good cover photo of Charles; they photoshopped out his rosacea quite nicely. I like how the outfit appears casual, but you can tell by the cut and fabric that it’s very, very expensive.
He has passions he cares deeply about but as far as people go Camilla might be the only person he cares deeply for. He is missing something, he lets Bill scream at him and stays mute about the awful racism hurled at Meghan and Archie. Figuring him out is above my pay grade.
Charles is self centered and always was IMO. It is possible for him to have had a relationship with Camilla (after the divorce) and still pay attention to his children. He just super protected William from bad press and threw Harry to the wolves.