Highgrove Gardens surround the much-loved private residence of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The gardens welcome almost 30,000 visitors between April and October every year, who can share in Their Majesties’ enjoyment of the gardens. Managed organically and sustainably, the gardens have been shaped by The King’s artistic vision over 40 years, and have become an important haven for flora and fauna. The gardens are now managed by The King’s Foundation. 

The warm honey element of our Highgrove Heritage Scarf is inspired by the Highgrove Garden bees. 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, and we utilise the honey in our on-site restaurant, Weavers. You can read about our on-site bees here.

The Highgrove Heritage Scarf was first launched in 2021 to coincide with the Campaign for Wool's 11th year and COP26. Highgrove were keen to weave  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 celebrates  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.

The new Limited Edition scarves are based on the original Highgrove Heritage pattern and are available in Green with Grey or Grey. 

The  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 builds and supports communities where people, places and the planet can coexist in harmony. 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, and acts as custodian of Highgrove Gardens.