The story behind The King’s Rose™ began with a simple moment of connection. At the Chelsea Flower Show in the 1990s, David J.C. Austin met His Majesty The King, then The Prince of Wales. During their conversation, they discovered they had both grown Ferdinand Pichard, a distinctive, striped old rose, as the first rose in their gardens. It was a small but meaningful exchange that stayed with David.
Years later, when a new rose bloomed with a similar pattern, that memory came back. It felt right to honour His Majesty’s work through The King’s Foundation, not just with a name but with something that could support a much larger cause, a shared love of nature, craftsmanship and community.
At David Austin®, our roses are bred over many years, sometimes decades, using traditional methods handed down through generations. It is a process rooted in patience, care and a deep respect for the natural world.
The King’s Foundation operates in much the same way. Founded by His Majesty in 1990, the Foundation works to bring people, places and the planet into better balance. It takes a hands-on, practical approach to education, community and sustainability by teaching traditional skills, restoring landscapes and putting wellbeing at the heart of all it does.
Every year, The King’s Foundation supports over 15,000 students to learn important skills often overlooked but desperately needed, from stonemasonry and timber framing to regenerative farming, land management and environmental design. These skills connect people to their surroundings and help keep valuable knowledge alive.
The Foundation also runs health and wellbeing programmes that use gardens, food and creativity to support nearly 2,000 people each year. It is thoughtful work, rooted in the belief that nature plays a vital role in how we care for ourselves and each other.
The King’s Rose™ (Ausa27a16) was made in this same spirit, bred by hand with patience and care using methods that respect the environment and long-term thinking. For every rose sold, £2.50 goes directly to support The King’s Foundation’s work both in the UK and worldwide.
It may seem a small gesture but it contributes to something far bigger, a mission we truly believe in because it reflects the way we work, think and what we hope to leave behind.
This is more than just a rose. It is a way to help something grow for gardens, for communities and for the future.
At Highgrove, where nature and art come together in harmony, The King’s Rose™ has found a home in two very special spots. One is the King’s own terrace, where the rose grows quietly, filling the air with its gentle fragrance.
The other is around one of Emma Stothard’s magnificent willow sculptures. Emma is celebrated for her skill with natural materials and has created living willow works that grow and change with the seasons. Planting The King’s Rose™ around her sculpture was a special moment, a wonderful way to bring together nature, art and community for everyone to enjoy.
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