Garden inspiration is everywhere, and while royal gardens cost millions to maintain, achieving a polished, Royal-worthy outdoor space doesn’t have to come with such a hefty price tag.
The average household spends around £300 per year on gardening, while taxpayers collectively footed a £67 million bill in 2025 for the Royal gardens. £67 million could in fact fund the garden budgets for 223k households, 6.7 million £10 garden centre trips, or over 1.1 million lawnmowers priced at £60. With this in mind, Luke Newnes, gardening expert at Hillarys, has shared tips on how households can achieve the look without a staggering amount of Monet.
“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. All they need is a spot in full or partial shade, with the soil nice and moist, rewarding you with white, beautifully fragrant bell-shaped blooms, followed by deep red berries later on. Because they spread naturally over time, you won’t need to buy or plant new ones as often. The Duke of Gloucester, meanwhile, is said to be a fan of Mexican fleabane, a relaxed, daisy-like flower. Once they get going, they’ll self-seed effortlessly around patios and paths, and come back year after year.
“Pergolas are another Royal garden favourite, with the King recently having an elaborate wisteria-covered pergola built on the grounds of Sandringham House. They give you a defined ‘room’ outdoors and draw your eye upward, making the space feel bigger. It’s amazing how much difference a few decorations can make. These elements add charm and visual interest. Think of it as styling your living room, just with the bonus of fresh air.”
The Most Expensive Private Royal Gardens to Maintain
While the private residences of Royals aren’t open to the public, the occasional snapshots of these gardens offer a glimpse into the meticulous upkeep behind some of Britain’s most beautiful grounds.
The Queen’s Gardens at Windsor Castle
£1,500,000 – £2,000,000
“The castle sits within the wider 5,000-acre Windsor Great Park estate, often described as covering the equivalent of 269 tennis courts, with formal gardens and landscaped grounds surrounding it, that require regular maintenance. The grounds are complete with over 3,500 perfumed rose bushes of eight different English varieties arranged in a geometric layout, requiring extensive seasonal pruning, feeding, and care, and large areas of ornamental lawns, hedges and flower beds. Other impressive features include 34 orange trees sent to George IV by the French King, Charles X and yew topiary domes.”
King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s Gardens at Highgrove House
£700,000 – £850,000
“The Highgrove House gardens cover around 15 acres within the Highgrove estate and feature numerous themed areas and intricate planting. Contributing to their costly upkeep are high-maintenance topiary forms, including carefully shaped yew hedges, which require precise trimming to maintain their sculptural appearance. Other areas include wildflower meadows, which may well be similar to that pictured, and rare heritage plant collections, including the Natural Collection of Hostas, which require expert horticultural care and monitoring. The gardens have also been managed using fully organic principles since the 1990s, which would require regular labour-intensive manual maintenance, such as hand weeding and composting.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales’ Garden at Kensington Palace
£300,000 – £450,000
“The Prince and Princess of Wales’ garden at Kensington Palace features manicured areas such as the Sunken Garden, with seasonal displays of tulips, wallflowers and pansies, and a large privacy hedge to shield it from public viewpoints and photographers. Known to be a favourite of Princess Diana, it is terraced with areas of lawn, paving and ornamental flower beds, surrounding a central ornamental pond. To mark the 20th anniversary of her passing in 2017, the gardeners transformed the space into The White Garden in her memory. Using flowers in white and soft pastel colours, the display took inspiration from items from the Princess’s wardrobe, then on display in the palace.” www.hillarys.co.uk
