The wait is over. Our sell-out Highgrove Heritage Scarf is back in stock. Tradition, history and elements of nature come together in this honey-toned commemorative scarf, a collaboration between Johnstons of Elgin and Highgrove, the family home of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The natural Merino Wool fibres used to create this popular design can be traced from farm to finished product. Johnstons of Elgin will donate 10% of retail sales from the scarf to The King's Foundation, which is dedicated to creating communities for a more sustainable world.
HIGHGROVE
Highgrove House and its Gloucester estate were owned by various families, including Maurice Macmillan, son of the late British Prime Minister Harold Macmillian, before the Duchy of Cornwall purchased them in 1980. The house and gardens, now home to the King and Queen, are run according to the King's long-standing environmental principles and welcome more than 4,000 visitors every year.
The warm honey tones of our Highgrove Heritage Scarf are inspired by Highgrove Gardens' bees, and the bee also holds great significance for Johnstons of Elgin, forming part of our brand logo for almost 100 years. The bee emblem, representing the busy workforce at our Scottish mills, was sketched into our first company emblem in the 1930s. Our team is now around 1,000 people strong, from apprentices to artisans and innovators, many of whom have been honing their rare textile skills for more than 40 years. We are delighted to have our own bee hive on the grounds of our Elgin weaving mill. The honey used in our on-site restaurant, Weavers.
A NOD TO NATURE
The Highgrove Heritage Scarf was first launched in 2021 to coincide with the Campaign for Wool’s 11th year and COP26. We have woven elements of nature into the heart of the design, placing the iconic Prince of Wales check over an enlarged Shepherd check to provide an aesthetic that reflects the history of traditional checks and tweeds. The Shepherd Check is the Foundation of all checks, originally coloured from undyed wool using the black, dark browns and whites from wool clip and woven into shawls worn by the Border shepherds. The next of the original checks was the Prince of Wales Check, created by King Edward VII during his time in Scotland as Prince of Wales. The Highgrove Heritage Scarf is a modern interpretation of these historical designs.
FROM SHEEP TO SHOP
Our Highgrove Heritage Scarf is made using Ultrafine Australian Merino Wool. We have been processing Merino Wool from this Commonwealth continent for generations, and you can read more about work with Australian Merino farmers on our Sustainability hub. The first Merino Sheep were introduced to Australia in 1797, the same year Johnstons of Elgin was established. At the same time, Highgrove was under construction - reaching completion in 1798.
Over the years, The King has tirelessly championed the benefits of wool, from its natural, renewable, biodegradable properties to its breathability, resilience and natural elasticity.
THE KING’S FOUNDATION
“RESPECTING THE PAST, BUILDING THE FUTURE”
The King’s Foundation aims to find holistic solutions to the challenges facing the world today. The organisation runs a diverse education and training programme for all ages and backgrounds and regenerates places where communities thrive and visitors can enjoy. The foundation works nationally and internationally and is based at Dumfries House and Gardens in Scotland.
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