King’s garden inspired by the planet Venus to open to visitors at Windsor Castle

A historic garden at Windsor Castle, which has been transformed according to the King’s vision and inspired by the planet Venus, is to open to visitors this summer.

The newly renamed and redesigned Venus Garden, beneath the royal residence’s famous east facade, captures Charles’ passion for patterns in nature.

The space, which was first used as a garden in the 1820s during the reign of George IV, takes its new design from the petal-shaped orbit of Earth’s closest planetary neighbour in the solar system.

The pattern in the new Venus Garden is inspired by the planet’s orbit (Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026/Royal Collection Trust/PA)

Traced over eight years, Venus’s orbit creates a geometric floral pattern, sometimes referred to as the Pentagram of Venus or the Rose of Venus.

The motif has inspired the layout of new perennial beds and evergreen hedge-lined pathways in the former East Terrace Garden, through which visitors will be able to wander as they explore the area in the Berkshire castle from July 16 to September 13.

Adam Scott, gardens and nursery manager at Windsor Castle, said: “This has been a significant project to reshape this historic garden for the future, reflecting His Majesty’s vision to create a space that will offer beauty, interest and biodiversity throughout the seasons and for generations to come.”

The King showing French President Emmanuel Macron one of the gardens at Windsor Castle during the state visit in 2025 (Aaron Chown/PA)PA Archive/PA Images - Aaron Chown

He added: “After around 18 months of careful transformation, we are delighted to open the Venus Garden to visitors this summer, marking the start of an important new chapter in the garden’s 200-year history.”

The site was once Charles II’s bowling green, and later Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert became interested in its planting, while the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret used it as an allotment during the Second World War.

The King’s father Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, went on to simplify the layout into formal rose beds and by commissioning a central fountain.

How the Windsor Castle’s East Terrace Garden looked in 2020 (Steve Parsons/PA)PA Archive/PA Images - Steve Parsons

Inspired by Charles, the space has been updated with an enhanced intricate planting scheme, offering year-round structure and long periods of blooms with mixed perennials and roses and 11,000 spring bulbs.

Wildflower meadows, dotted with trees and threaded with pathways, introduce softer, more naturalistic areas within the formal layout, creating a biodiverse haven for wildlife and insects reflecting the King’s longstanding commitment to sustainability.

Visitors to the castle’s terrace will also see new avenues of pear trees, topiary yew shrubs, bronze Hubert Le Sueur figure sculptures made for Charles I, from the Royal Collection, as well as large-scale marble, bronze and stone vases and other garden ornaments.

The redesigned Venus Garden in 2026 ready for visitors this summer (Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2026/Royal Collection Trust/PA)

The area has only intermittently been open to the public throughout its history and will give tourists the rare opportunity to enjoy the impressive views of the castle’s east facade, seldom seen as part of the usual visitor route.

Access to the Venus Garden is included with a standard ticket to Windsor Castle between July 16 to September 13, at no extra charge.

People receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits can visit the castle and explore the garden with up to five members of their household through Royal Collection Trust’s £1 ticket scheme.