The King and Prince of Wales have marked the end of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, by planting an Acer tree in the gardens of Sandringham House – the King’s Norfolk estate.
The project was launched to mark the Platinum Jubilee of 2022, but was extended to give people the opportunity to plant trees in honour of the late Queen.
The King and The Prince of Wales mark the end of The Queen’s Green Canopy. (Royal Family)
Buckingham Palace released a photo of the planting, with The Prince of Wales in wellington boots, and The King dressed down in cream trousers and brown boots.
Charles said: ‘It is hard to believe that two years have passed since my mother and I planted a tree in Windsor Great Park to mark the commencement of the Queen’s Green Canopy.
‘As the second planting season draws to a close, and with it this vitally important initiative, I particularly wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone from across the United Kingdom who has helped to plant over three million trees to create an enduring legacy in Queen Elizabeth’s name.
‘This project has shown how simple, practical and positive gestures can make a big difference, and I can think of no more fitting tribute to her late majesty’s 70-year reign.’
The scheme was launched in 2021, when the late Queen and the then-Prince of Wales planted the first Jubilee tree in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
A photograph of The Queen and Prince Charles as taken to mark the start of the scheme. (Royal Family).
The initiative urged ‘everyone from individuals to Scout and Girlguiding groups, villages, cities, counties, schools and corporates’ to plant trees to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
It also highlighted 70 irreplaceable ancient woodlands across the UK and identified 70 ancient trees, as well as create a pilot training programme for unemployed young people to plant and manage trees.
Whilst the project has come to an end, The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative has announced it will fund the planting of a specimen tree in each of the 98 lieutenancies across the UK later this year, to mark the Coronation of The King.
The King has written a foreword to a book documenting the project, and its achievements.
