King Charles used to be mocked over his habit of giving trees he planted enouragement to grow, a royal author has revealed.
Robert Hardman’s new book, “The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy”, delves into the 75-year-old monarch’s reign and the major events leading up to him being formally crowned in May.
The King is known for championing environmental projects and efforts to tackle climate change, but Hardman has revealed the royal has an almost personal relationship with the natural world.
“He does love being out and about in the countryside,” Hardman told Fox News Digital. “He’s always disappearing, and he’s got a particular thing at the moment with planting trees.
“He’s obsessed with it. He’s always liked planting trees. He used to get mocked for it slightly because whenever he planted a tree, he’d always shake one of the leaves by the hand and say, ‘Good luck tree.’”
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Hardman says Charles’s passion for planting trees has gone “up a notch” since he ascended to the throne, and spends a lot of his time outdoors.
“He is now planting so many trees,” he told the outlet. “I talked to one of his staff, and he said, ‘Well, we often joke, “Where’s the King? He is probably planting trees.”‘
“And it turns out … he is planting trees. He’s not at his desk, he’s out in the garden.”
According to the book, when Charles isn’t out planting, he follows a daily exercise regimen developed for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
He’s also said to be a keen skier and has regularly visited the Swiss resorts of Klosters since taking up the sport sport over 40 years ago.
Charles also reportedly opts to skip lunch, and at formal luncheons can be expected to be seen with an empty plate.
Those who spend time with the king, say regardless of the season he prefers keeping his windows wide open for “fresh air.”
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The monarch is also known for sharing “coded messages” with certain ties.
“His favorite has a little T-Rex motif on it,” Hardman said. “I thought, ‘That’s a bit odd. I keep seeing this tie with a dinosaur on it …’ Of course, his cipher says, C. Rex, Charles Rex.
“So, I think he’s having a little joke about being king with his tie. But he’s in a good place. He’s a happy monarch.”
On Monday, the Palace announced that the royal had been released from hospital after having surgery for an enlarged prostate.
“The King was this afternoon discharged from hospital following planned medical treatment and has rescheduled forthcoming public engagements to allow for a period of private recuperation,”it said in a statement.
