King Charles has released a rare limited-edition lithograph of a watercolor painting he created in 1995, one of the most tumultuous years of his marriage to the late Princess Diana. The artwork, titled "Highgrove House - A View from the Wildflower Meadow," offers a glimpse into the monarch's private world during a period of intense personal upheaval. The piece is now available for pre-order through his Highgrove Gardens shop, with all proceeds supporting The King's Foundation.
The 76-year-old King, who is known for his amateur artistic pursuits, painted the original watercolor when he was still Prince of Wales and separated from Princess Diana. The lithograph reproduction is priced at approximately $4,850 and is part of an exclusive series of only 100 signed copies by the sovereign himself. The artwork depicts the peaceful Wildflower Meadow at Highgrove House, with the King's beloved country residence visible in the distance.
The timing of this painting's creation holds particular significance, as 1995 marked one of the most chaotic periods in Charles and Diana's deteriorating marriage. That year, Princess Diana gave her infamous secret interview to BBC's Panorama program, during which she made the explosive statement: "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." Her comment was a direct reference to Camilla Parker Bowles, who is now Queen Camilla, and her ongoing affair with Charles that overlapped with his marriage to Diana.
Highgrove House served as Charles's sanctuary during this difficult period, providing him with a private retreat away from the intense media scrutiny surrounding his personal life. He had acquired the Gloucestershire countryside property in 1980 and spent years transforming its gardens into what is now a world-renowned destination. The estate became even more meaningful to the future king as his marriage unraveled, offering him solace and a place to pursue his passions for gardening and painting.
During the Panorama interview, Diana also acknowledged her own extramarital relationships, adding another layer of complexity to the royal scandal. The interview's impact was immediate and devastating to the royal family. Just one month later, in December 1995, Queen Elizabeth II took the unprecedented step of writing letters to both Charles and Diana, urging them to proceed with a divorce to end the damaging public spectacle.
The royal couple had married in what was dubbed the "wedding of the century" in 1981, capturing the world's attention with their fairy-tale ceremony. They welcomed two sons, Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984, before their relationship began to deteriorate. The couple officially separated in 1992 and announced their formal separation the following year. Their divorce was finalized in August 1996, ending one of the most scrutinized marriages in royal history.
Tragically, Princess Diana's life was cut short just one year after the divorce when she died at age 36 in a car accident in Paris in August 1997. Her death sent shockwaves around the world and marked the end of a tumultuous chapter in royal history. Both of her sons have honored their mother's memory by giving their daughters Diana as a middle name - Prince William's daughter Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana and Prince Harry's daughter Princess Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor.
The King's Foundation, which benefits from the sale of Highgrove products including this new lithograph, focuses on sustainability initiatives and programs designed to uplift young people. The charity reflects Charles's long-standing commitment to environmental causes and education, interests he has pursued throughout his decades of public service. The release of this intimate artwork provides royal enthusiasts with a rare opportunity to own a piece created during one of the most pivotal moments in modern royal history.
