Why gardening is called a royal hobby
In these series the Allaboutroyalfamilies blog is researching
about the hobbies of members of the royal family in past and
in present as well.
This week, the blog wants to talk about gardening.
Which royal like(d) to spend some time in the garden?
Who are or were the Monty Dons of the Royal Family?
Let's check it!
First of all: there are many royals who designed (or gave the order to
design their palace gardens) and much royals like to garden themselves.
It's a long list and far from complete. So if you have remarks or you
want to add royals on the list, please let me know!
Austria
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (1768-1835), gave the order to
redecorate the palace garden of Schönbrunn in its Neoclassical Style
as people can see today.
Another beautiful palace with an amazing garden in Vienna is the
Belvedere Palace, built in order of Prince Eugene of Savoy.
Belgium
It was known that King Leopold I of Belgium had a knowledge of
nature, due to its education in Coburg, Germany.
Queen Fabiola of Belgium learned flower arranging. However she had
other interesting hobbies. Her sister-in-law, queen Paola, on the other
hand, gave the order to redesign the gardens of Ciergnon.
France
One of the most important garden architects in France was without
no doubt André Le Nôtre. He was appointed by King Louis XIV of
France.
Queen Marie-Antoinette of France gave the order to build the
Hameau de la Reine on the grounds of Versailles. Their she could play
a Farmer's wife. Many people found her decadent.
Later, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, Joséphine de Beauharnais
was well known for her love for gardening. Her home called
Malmaisson, had wonderful roses. Joséphine supervised her rose
garden very closely due to her own passion for this wonderful flower.
She even collected roses from all over the world.
Germany
In Munich, the capital of the former Kingdom of Bavaria, the most
central place is the Hofgarten, near the Residenz and the Englisher
Garden. This garden was commissioned by Maximilian I, Elector
of Bavaria (1573 - 1651). The garden has a design in the Italian
Renaissance style.
Berlin has its own Versailles at Potsdam. There King Frederick the
Great (1712 - 1786) gave the order to build the Sanssouci Palace
and Gardens.
My all-time favourite castle in the Sanssouci Park at Potsdam is
without no doubt the Orangerie Palace. This was built in order of
King Frederick William IV of Prussia (1851-1861). The gardens
were created in the Italian Renaissance style by Peter Joseph Lenné.
Portugal
One of the most beautiful palaces in Portugal is without no doubt the
Palácio de Pena in Sintra. King Ferdinand II of Portugal gave the order
to create this magnificent Palace. King Ferdinand II was born as the
son of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He married to Queen
Maria II of Portugal.
The Palácio of Pena was built in such a way as to be visible from any
point in the park. It has a forest and luxurious gardens.
Spain
In Spain, I only had the chance to visit the Alcázar of Seville (in 2018).
It is a royal palace built on the site of a Muslim Alcázar. All the Alcázars
do have amazing gardens.
The Alcázar of Seville has orchards with fruit trees, horticultural produce
and a wide variety of fragrant flowers. It really is amazing to walk there.
Sweden
In Sweden Crown Princess Victoria, her husband Daniel and their children
were pictured in their garden at the Haga Palace, where they like to spend
some time.
The Netherlands
Stadtholder William of The Netherlands, who became King William III of
England and his wife Queen Mary II gave the order to design the beautiful
gardens of Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn in The Netherlands.
United Kingdom
On 5 June 1861, Prince Albert (born Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), husband of
Queen Victoria, undertook his last public event. He opened the Royal
Horticultural Gardens.
David Bowes-Lyon (a brother of the Queen Mum) also was a keen gardener.
He was president of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) from 1953 till
1961.
At Balmoral Castle, the garden was created under the supervision of
Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. Later Prince Philip, the
Duke of Edinburgh gave the order to create a kitchen garden.
Charles, Prince of Wales revealed once that he and his sister Princess Anne
had been tasked with cultivating their own plants at Buckingham Palace.
He also was very keen on his grandmother's garden at the Royal Lodge in
Windsor.
Even The Queen has taken up a new hobby at the age of 91: gardening.
For her 90th. B-Day she asked her friends to give her new plants.
What a lady!
Nowadays it is no big secret, that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of
Cambridge likes to garden. She even created a beautiful garden at the
Chelsea Flower Show.
Own pictures: taken during trips
- Vienna (2011)
- Versailles (2017)
- München (2014)
- Berlin (2013)
- The Netherlands (2014)
- Portugal (2017)
- Seville (2018)
- United Kingdom (2004)
about the hobbies of members of the royal family in past and
in present as well.
This week, the blog wants to talk about gardening.
Which royal like(d) to spend some time in the garden?
Who are or were the Monty Dons of the Royal Family?
Let's check it!
First of all: there are many royals who designed (or gave the order to
design their palace gardens) and much royals like to garden themselves.
It's a long list and far from complete. So if you have remarks or you
want to add royals on the list, please let me know!
 |
| Schönbrunn |
 |
| Schönbrunn |
 |
| Schönbrunn |
 |
| Belvedere |
 |
| Belvedere |
Austria
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (1768-1835), gave the order to
redecorate the palace garden of Schönbrunn in its Neoclassical Style
as people can see today.
Another beautiful palace with an amazing garden in Vienna is the
Belvedere Palace, built in order of Prince Eugene of Savoy.
Belgium
It was known that King Leopold I of Belgium had a knowledge of
nature, due to its education in Coburg, Germany.
Queen Fabiola of Belgium learned flower arranging. However she had
other interesting hobbies. Her sister-in-law, queen Paola, on the other
hand, gave the order to redesign the gardens of Ciergnon.
 |
| Versailles |
 |
| Versailles |
 |
| Versailles Garden |
France
One of the most important garden architects in France was without
no doubt André Le Nôtre. He was appointed by King Louis XIV of
France.
Queen Marie-Antoinette of France gave the order to build the
Hameau de la Reine on the grounds of Versailles. Their she could play
a Farmer's wife. Many people found her decadent.
Later, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, Joséphine de Beauharnais
was well known for her love for gardening. Her home called
Malmaisson, had wonderful roses. Joséphine supervised her rose
garden very closely due to her own passion for this wonderful flower.
She even collected roses from all over the world.
 |
| München Germany |
 |
| München Germany |
 |
| Sanssouci Palace Potsdam |
 |
| Sanssouci Palace Potsdam |
 |
| View from the Orangerie Palace in Potsdam |
Germany
In Munich, the capital of the former Kingdom of Bavaria, the most
central place is the Hofgarten, near the Residenz and the Englisher
Garden. This garden was commissioned by Maximilian I, Elector
of Bavaria (1573 - 1651). The garden has a design in the Italian
Renaissance style.
Berlin has its own Versailles at Potsdam. There King Frederick the
Great (1712 - 1786) gave the order to build the Sanssouci Palace
and Gardens.
My all-time favourite castle in the Sanssouci Park at Potsdam is
without no doubt the Orangerie Palace. This was built in order of
King Frederick William IV of Prussia (1851-1861). The gardens
were created in the Italian Renaissance style by Peter Joseph Lenné.
 |
| Sintra Portugal |
 |
| Sintra Portugal |
Portugal
One of the most beautiful palaces in Portugal is without no doubt the
Palácio de Pena in Sintra. King Ferdinand II of Portugal gave the order
to create this magnificent Palace. King Ferdinand II was born as the
son of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He married to Queen
Maria II of Portugal.
The Palácio of Pena was built in such a way as to be visible from any
point in the park. It has a forest and luxurious gardens.
 |
| Alcazar in Seville Spain |
 |
| Alcazar in Seville Spain |
Spain
In Spain, I only had the chance to visit the Alcázar of Seville (in 2018).
It is a royal palace built on the site of a Muslim Alcázar. All the Alcázars
do have amazing gardens.
The Alcázar of Seville has orchards with fruit trees, horticultural produce
and a wide variety of fragrant flowers. It really is amazing to walk there.
Sweden
In Sweden Crown Princess Victoria, her husband Daniel and their children
were pictured in their garden at the Haga Palace, where they like to spend
some time.
 |
| Het Loo the Netherlands Gardens |
 |
| Het Loo the Netherlands Gardens |
The Netherlands
Stadtholder William of The Netherlands, who became King William III of
England and his wife Queen Mary II gave the order to design the beautiful
gardens of Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn in The Netherlands.
United Kingdom
On 5 June 1861, Prince Albert (born Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), husband of
Queen Victoria, undertook his last public event. He opened the Royal
Horticultural Gardens.
David Bowes-Lyon (a brother of the Queen Mum) also was a keen gardener.
He was president of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) from 1953 till
1961.
At Balmoral Castle, the garden was created under the supervision of
Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. Later Prince Philip, the
Duke of Edinburgh gave the order to create a kitchen garden.
Charles, Prince of Wales revealed once that he and his sister Princess Anne
had been tasked with cultivating their own plants at Buckingham Palace.
He also was very keen on his grandmother's garden at the Royal Lodge in
Windsor.
Even The Queen has taken up a new hobby at the age of 91: gardening.
For her 90th. B-Day she asked her friends to give her new plants.
What a lady!
Nowadays it is no big secret, that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of
Cambridge likes to garden. She even created a beautiful garden at the
Chelsea Flower Show.
Own pictures: taken during trips
- Vienna (2011)
- Versailles (2017)
- München (2014)
- Berlin (2013)
- The Netherlands (2014)
- Portugal (2017)
- Seville (2018)
- United Kingdom (2004)
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