Highgrove, the King’s country estate, is decked out in festive Christmas decorations, including a poignant tribute to a recent sad loss for the Royal Family. Among the tree ornaments is an embroidered motif of Beth, Queen Camilla’s beloved Jack Russell, who sadly had to be put down last weekend, leaving the Queen ‘heartbroken.’
Beth, aged 13, was put down after she was diagnosed with cancer, a heartbreaking decision for Camilla who adopted the puppy from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home when it was just 12 weeks old. However, the void left by Beth in the family could soon be filled.
Speaking to Alan Carr and Amanda Holden at the Royal Variety Performance, King Charles told the hosts that they would be welcoming a new four-legged member to the Royal Family following the tragic death. The handmade likeness of Beth, wearing a red bandana adorned with a crown, and another of Camilla’s terrier Bluebell, also crowned, are both on the tree and available in the Highgrove shop this year.
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Priced at £12.95 each, these decorations were introduced in September as part of a long-planned addition to the Christmas range and were hung on the tree earlier this month, before news of Beth’s illness was known, reports the Express.
Highgrove staff in Gloucestershire are preparing to welcome the public for festive celebrations in the Orchard Room, the estate’s dedicated entertaining space. This includes serving two or three-course Christmas lunches in the run-up to the holiday season.
The decorations across the estate encapsulate a traditional Royal Christmas, with red, green and gold hues adding a cosy touch. The King’s dedication to sustainability is clear, with all lights being low voltage LEDs and sustainable materials such as paper baubles, plant-based glitter and flowers made from recycled paper mulch used.
A pair of giant nutcrackers, painted to resemble Royal guardsmen in red tunics with tall black hats, stand sentinel at the entrance. The King’s Foundation, a charity overseen by Charles, manages Highgrove Gardens.
All profits from Christmas lunches and shopping at Highgrove contribute towards the organisation’s work. The foundation hosts educational workshops on-site for traditional and endangered crafts like millinery, embroidery, and woodworking.
It also oversees public access to Highgrove through garden tours, with tickets set to be available again in February 2025.