Between royal duties, checks in on his flock.
The monarch recently gave longtime royal photographer Chris Jackson a tour of “Cluckingham Palace,” the chicken coop at his beloved Highgrove estate. The photos are featured in Jacksons new photo book, “Modern Majesty.” Jackson has photographed Charles, 77, for more than 20 years.
Cluckingham Palace, a cheeky nod to Buckingham Palace, was recently featured on Amazon Prime Videos “Finding Harmony: A Kings Vision.”
“One of my favorite pictures in the book is King Charles feeding his Burford Brown and Maran chickens ,” Jackson told Fox News Digital.
“Many people dont know he keeps chickens in a chicken coop called Cluckingham Palace,” Jackson said, laughing.
“Many people didnt know about it until the recent documentary he made. But hes very passionate about the environment. Hes very passionate about the countryside. And I think feeding his chickens in the morning is probably very far removed from many of the royal engagements he has to attend in a day. So, I would imagine it gives him a little bit of reflection and down time away from the formalities of his day-to-day life.”
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“Capturing those moments was very special because its not often something we imagine when we think about the king feeding chickens at Cluckingham Palace,” Jackson added.
In the documentary, Charles is seen in rain boots bringing a bucket of feed into Cluckingham Palace. He leaves with a basket full of brown eggs.
“Well, the great thing is you give them something in return,” the sovereign said with a chuckle.
Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that Charles has always had a great love for farming and the great outdoors. He purchased Highgrove, the royal country home, in 1980 and redesigned its landscape.
“Why chickens? Well, it was often said that Charles used to have his kitchen staff boil seven eggs each morning so he could find the perfect one for his breakfast,” said Turner.Â
“In his early days, Charles became a tree hugger and used to regularly talk to his plants, which he felt helped them grow. He also had a keen interest in farming and helped to develop the farm shop at Windsor, which sold meat and vegetables grown on the royal estates.”
Jackson noted that the king has been in good spirits, tending to his chickens despite his health woes. In December, Charles announced that his cancer treatment would be reduced in the new year, a positive development in his health journey.
“Of course, it was probably the last thing he expected post-coronation, to be diagnosed with cancer,” said Jackson.
“Its clearly a very difficult time for both himself, and the royal family. But its been absolutely fantastic to see him bounce back with renewed energy. And certainly, its pretty difficult to keep up with him these days. Hes a very busy man, with multiple daily engagements and royal visits over the last couple of days. It certainly hasnt stopped him from traveling abroad.”
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital he isnt surprised Charles refers to his chicken coop as Cluckingham Palace. The monarch, he said, has always been known for his sense of humor.
“[One of my favorite stories] involves Charles trying to move a flock of sheep at Highgrove,” said Fitzwilliams. “Instead of obeying the royal command, they scattered in all directions with his arms waving, exacerbating the situation, until a nearby farmer stepped in. His affection for the countryside is also reflected in his watercolors. He has genuine talent and loves painting in the ou
