King Charles forced to brace for sudden disruption at private Highgrove estate

His Majesty King Charles III's countryside home, Highgrove House, will be bracing for potential disruption this week as Storm Austen is set to take hold in the South of England on Friday. 

A yellow warning for wind has been issued for southerly parts of England, and while Charles' property sits just outside of the predicted yellow danger zone, the storm is expected to travel upwards, and is likely to still affect the property. The Met Office has highlighted "the chance travel disruption, power cuts and a chance of injuries from debris in places" during the storm.

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree has said: “While the exact track and position of Storm Austen is still being determined, what’s clear is that we have an impactful period of weather on the way and the potential for disruption in places, which has resulted in the system being named.  

“Peak gusts in excess of 70mph are possible on the most exposed coastal areas, while 50-60mph are likely more widely within the warning area. Weather warnings are under constant review and could be updated as confidence increases, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with the forecast in the coming days.” 

The team at Charles' private royal residence will be busy locking down the garden by securing any loose items and clustering any pots to prevent any disasters. 

Luckily, the gardens are currently closed to members of the public so there will be no business disruption there. The gardens will remain closed until spring 2027 when exclusive tours will resume. Special tour options also include viewing the garden followed by a two-course lunch or afternoon tea. 

The gardens are a great pride and joy of Charles', and he says they have been designed to "please the eye and sit in harmony with nature".

Why autumn rain could be a very good thing for Highgrove 

While winds may not be welcome at the property, the heavy rain may well be. When I visited Highgrove in person earlier this month, one of the garden tour guides, Rob, explained that the harsh summer drought had had a negative impact on plants at the property. 

Rob explained that a Magnolia tree from the 1920s has not flowered for two years now, due to the extreme heat - choosing "survival over reproduction," he explained. Other botanicals have been blooming at usual times of year too, confused by the mild autumn and winter seasons.