King Charles has been an advocate for organic farming and sustainable agriculture for over four decades, despite the scepticism he received even from his own family.
“I remember being told I was a complete idiot for opting for organic farming all those years ago,” he famously said during a global allergy symposium at Dumfries House in 2022. Soldiering on with his beliefs, the monarch converted Duchy Home Farm at Highgrove to fully organic agriculture in 1986, and he founded Duchy Originals (now Waitrose Duchy Organic) in 1990.
Despite these achievements, one person who remained unconvinced was his father Prince Philip, who made his feelings clear to royal staff.
Darren McGrady, who was personal chef to the Queen, recalled that then-Prince Charles had arrived at the royal family’s traditional Christmas celebrations at Sandringham bearing gifts. The “rival” hamper interfered with one of their long-standing traditions, prompting his father to “stomp off”.
Darren penned in the Mail on Sunday: “There was great anticipation over the Harrods hamper, sent in those days as an appreciation of the Royals’ business.
“It would arrive on Christmas Eve containing wheels of Stilton, a whole foie gras en croute and other exotic treats. One year, Prince Charles had a rival hamper sent, full of organic produce from his Highgrove estate.”
© Getty ImagesAfter the Duke of Edinburgh questioned why there were two hampers, the chef replied: “‘It’s from the Prince of Wales,’ I said. ‘It’s his organic food.’ Philip rolled his eyes. ‘Bloody organic,’ he muttered, and stomped off.”
Prince Philip and King Charles’ differing visions for the future of farming
Prince Philip’s views contrast sharply with his son. The late Queen Elizabeth’s husband said in ITV documentary, The Duke: A Portrait of Prince Philip: “Organic farming is not an absolute certainty that it’s quite as useful as it sounds. You have got to be emotionally committed to it – but if you stand back and be open-minded about it, it is quite difficult to really find where it has a real benefit.”
Both Philip and Princess Anne previously advocated for the potential of genetically modified crops to ensure global food security.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesAddressing the debate in The Times, Philip said: “Do not let us forget we have been genetically modifying animals and plants ever since people started selective breeding… The introduction of exotic species – like, for instance… the grey squirrel – is going to or has done far more damage than a genetically modified piece of potato.”
Princess Anne echoed that pragmatism in an interview with The Grocer, stating it was “a huge oversimplification to say all farming ought to be organic, or there should be no GM foods.”
However, when Charles took the reins at Sandringham in 2017, he converted it from traditional farming to a fully organic operation – a move Philip reportedly didn’t oppose.
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