King Charles announces closure of iconic royal home

King Charles and his team at Highgrove House and Gardens are preparing to count down to the gates closing for the rest of the year until 2026, as the season for tours ends. On Monday, the monarch's team shared a brand-new reel on their Instagram page, showing stunning clips of the autumnal gardens.

There are a few more October dates still available for people to book and visit the grounds, but at the end of October, Highgrove Gardens will be closed until 2026. The clip, which has received just under 900 likes on Instagram, shows the leaves turning brown as the weather becomes cooler.

The caption read: "Today, our Autumn Walks begin and we are welcoming visitors to experience the changing seasons at Highgrove. Some tickets are still available both for Autumn Walks (which includes sweet or savoury scones served with tea or coffee) and Autumn Walks with lunch (which includes a two-course lunch in our Orchard Room restaurant). Visit the link in bio to book your spot."

Royal fans who have already visited Highgrove this season commented on the "beautiful" surroundings.

Garden Tours take place on selected dates between April and September, while Spring Walks take place on selected dates in March and April, and Autumn Walks on selected dates in September and October.

One wrote on Instagram: "Went today and it was beautiful with the sunlight through the trees. Very good coffee and scones after as well. Lovely treat."

Another commented: "We had an amazing afternoon at Highgrove."

A third simply commented: "So beautiful!!"

His Majesty came to Highgrove in 1980, and the house and gardens have since undergone many thoughtful innovations. When His Majesty first arrived, Highgrove possessed little more than a neglected kitchen garden, an overgrown copse, some pastureland, and a few hollow oaks.

Today, after the hard work of many people, an interlinked series of gardens now unfolds in a succession of personal and inspiring tableaux, each reflecting HM The King's interests and enthusiasms. Highgrove now welcomes up to 40,000 visitors a year.

Immediately before The King's arrival, Highgrove was the home of Maurice Macmillan, son of Harold Macmillan, who was the British Prime Minister in the 1950s and early 1960s.