The Daily Telegraph

Flight path is mere noise when Queen is at her ‘special place’

Hint at disruption from Heathrow when Royal Family retreat to ‘secret bolthole’ Frogmore House

- By Hannah Furness and Victoria Ward

IN 1867, her ancestor Queen Victoria described it as a haven of peace and quiet, accompanie­d only by the “hum of the bees, the singing of the birds”.

Some 150 years later, and the Queen will not let trifling matters like being near a flight path stand in her way of enjoying the gardens of Frogmore.

The Queen has said the gardens of Frogmore House remain a “wonderfull­y relaxing environmen­t”, despite “more noise in the air” than birds and bees alone.

The house, sometimes described as the Royal Family’s “secret bolt-hole”, is situated in Windsor’s Home Park, around 10 miles away from Heathrow Airport.

The Queen yesterday spoke of her love of its garden during a special message to Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, in a special episode celebratin­g the programme’s 70th anniversar­y.

In a one-minute-long contributi­on, she told of the “special place” Frogmore has in her family’s hearts, and her early memories of her mother as a “hands-on” gardener.

Staff at Frogmore described the Queen’s keen interest in its garden, though suggested her son, the Prince of Wales, would be more likely to pick up a trowel in person.

“I very much hope you have enjoyed visiting Frogmore House and garden, which holds a special place in my family’s affection,” the Queen told BBC Radio 4 listeners. “Indeed I would echo the sentiments of Queen Victoria, who 150 years ago wrote of this ‘dear, lovely garden where all is peace and quiet and you only hear the hum of the bees, the singing of the birds’.

“These days there is more noise from the air than in 1867, but Frogmore remains a wonderfull­y relaxing environmen­t.” She added: “I’m not any sort of expert on gardening, but plants, trees and flowers have been a source of pleasure throughout my life.

“I have an early memory of my mother, Queen Elizabeth, being a hands on gardener; a tradition that has been followed by other members of my family. I know this passion is shared by your listeners and many other people besides.

“As you mark the programme’s 70th anniversar­y, I send my congratula­tions and wish you continued success.”

Referring to Daphne bholua “Jacqueline Postill”, planted for the Queen as a present at Frogmore, she added: “Prince Philip and I would also like to thank you for your kind gift, which we look forward to seeing and enjoying in the near future.” John Anderson, the keeper of the gardens at Frogmore House, confirmed that the Queen “certainly knows her stuff ” when it comes to gardening, with a personal interest in every element of the garden.

No work is undertaken without her say so, he added. “The Queen will let us know if she likes the idea. And if she likes the idea, we get on with it,” he told Gardeners’ Question Time.

“When it comes to Frogmore, because it’s such a special garden, I will often have a meeting with Her Majesty, take a walk around the gardens and put ideas out of things I hope she will like. If she approves we will get on and do the work and hopefully she will enjoy it.”

He disclosed the Queen particular­ly liked primroses, wild flowers and bright colours, and also took an interest in the wildlife.

She spends most time in the garden in spring, and Mr Anderson said that by then, it will be filled with daffodils, tulips and azaleas. A new cherry tree avenue has also been planted near the tea house, “so if one decides to have afternoon tea one can look out at this beautiful little grove of cherry trees”.

Mr Anderson, who was appointed to the role at Frogmore last April, added: “The Queen wears bright colours and that’s reflected in the garden. She has a very wide palette of colours which she enjoys.”

Asked whether she ever donned the gardening gloves and got involved with a trowel, Mr Anderson laughed: “I think she’d leave that role up to His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales.”

As well as being the playground for Royal children, Frogmore is also the burial place of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and a honeymoon destinatio­n for the future George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in 1923.

Usually off-limits to the public, it opened for three days in June last year for charity.

 ??  ?? A 1968 picture of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with their children at Frogmore House near Windsor Castle
A 1968 picture of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with their children at Frogmore House near Windsor Castle

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