Can you guess what surprising ceremony King Charles performs whenever he plants a tree?
Can you guess what surprising ceremony King Charles performs when he plants a tree?
- Charles has a distinctive approach to tree planting – a regular royal duty
- READ MORE: For all the latest Royal news, photos and videos click here
King Charles has long talked about plants, but when it comes to planting trees, he does more than that.
According to the official royal website, Charles even grabs hold of a branch, shakes it “kindly” and wishes it well.
Planting trees is a common occurrence during royal visits and official openings, so the king has had a lot of practice over the years.
Charles and Camilla, avid gardeners in their own right, are expected to visit the Chelsea Flower Show today, although it is unlikely they will be asked to plant anything in the pristine displays.
King Charles takes part in his signature tree-planting ritual during his visit to Somerville College, Oxford, which celebrated its 140th birthday on 8 June 2021.
Prince Charles wishes a conifer well during a visit to Bodnant Gardens in 2008
King Charles picks up a banyan tree and shakes the leaf vigorously. Here he is with Queen Camilla in New Dehli in 2017 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the British Council in India
Charles shared a love of trees with his future mother. Here they have planted one to mark the launch of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative at Scotland’s Balmoral Cricket Pavilion on October 1, 2021
Trees have become an increasingly important topic in the national debate.
Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, sponsored The Queen’s Green Canopy, a planting initiative to mark her platinum anniversary.
Charles himself has said: “As I get older, all I long to do is plant trees. I hope it will be very amusing for George when they grow up, and he grows up.’
The green-fingered king built an arboretum near his home at Balmoral and planted trees the year his first grandson, George, was born, naming it so in his honour.
The space that was once empty and now known as Prince George’s Wood will now grow alongside the future king, who is second in line to the throne.
He told the BBC in 2021: ‘The great thing was I managed to plant it the same year my grandson was born, the eldest, George, so I thought I’d call it Prince George’s wood.’
Dignitaries watch as Charles performs his rituals and gardens during Camilla’s visit in May 2019
Charles seems to be expecting a response from this acer at the Bristol Cancer Help Centre