King Charles still tends to his chickens at Highgrove amid his cancer battle

In between royal duties, King Charles checks on his flock.

The monarch recently gave longtime royal photographer Chris Jackson a tour of “Cluckingham Palace,” the chicken coop at his beloved Highgrove estate. The photos are featured in Jackson’s new photo book. “Your Modern Majesty.” Jackson has been photographing Charles, 77, for more than 20 years.

Cluckingham Palace, a cheeky reference to Buckingham Palace, was recently featured on Amazon Prime Video’s “Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision.”

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“One of my favorite images in the book is King Charles feeding Burford Brown and Maran chickens at his home called Highgrove,” Jackson told Fox News Digital.

“A lot of people don’t know that he kept chickens in a chicken coop called Cluckingham Palace,” Jackson said with a laugh.

King Charles III was crowned with Camilla in 2023. (Statement for Buckingham Palace/Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

“A lot of people didn’t know about it until the last documentary he made. But he’s very passionate about the environment. He’s also very passionate about the countryside. And I think feeding his chickens in the morning is a far cry from most of the royal engagements he probably has to attend in a day. So I imagine it gives him some time to think and have some downtime away from the formalities of his day-to-day life.”

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“Capturing those moments was so special because it’s not something we usually imagine when we think of the king feeding the chickens at Cluckingham Palace,” Jackson added.

In the documentary, Charles is seen in rain boots I’m bringing a bucket of bait to Cluckingham Palace. He leaves with a basket full of brown eggs.

Charles’ chicken coop, seen here, is located at Highgrove House in Tetbury, England. (Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“Well, the best thing is that you give them something in return,” the ruler said with a chuckle.

King Charles III, then Prince Charles, feeds Burford Brown and Maran chickens in the early morning at Highgrove House in Tetbury, United Kingdom, on July 19, 2018. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Clarence House)

Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that Charles always had a great love for farming and outdoor activities. In 1980 he bought the royal country estate Highgrove and redesigned the landscaping.

“Why chickens? It was often said that Charles had the kitchen staff boil seven eggs every morning so he could find the perfect one for his breakfast,” Turner said.

Charles bought Highgrove House in 1980. (Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“In his early days, Charles became a ‘tree hugger’ and would regularly talk to his plants, which he felt helped them grow. He also had a keen interest in farming and helped develop the farm shop in Windsor, which sold meat and vegetables grown on the royal estates.”

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Jackson stated that the king was in good spirits and was taking care of his chickens despite his health problems. In December, Charles announced that cancer treatment would be reduced in the new year; This was a positive development in his health journey.

King Charles III receives some flowers as he leaves University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Center in London on April 30, 2024. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

“Of course, the last thing he probably expected after his coronation was to be diagnosed with cancer,” Jackson said.

“Obviously it’s been a very difficult time for him, for Queen Camilla and for the royal family. But it’s been absolutely wonderful to see him come back with renewed energy. And it’s certainly quite difficult to keep up with him these days. He’s a very busy man with multiple day jobs and royal visits over the last few days. That certainly hasn’t stopped him from traveling abroad.”

Chris Jackson’s book “Modern Majesty: The British Royal Family Today” is available now. (Rizzoli)

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital he wasn’t surprised that Charles referred to the chicken coop as Cluckingham Palace. He said the monarch has always been known for his sense of humour.

“[One of my favorite stories] “It involves Charles trying to move a flock of sheep through Highgrove,” Fitzwilliams said. Fitzwilliams continued: “Instead of complying with the royal order, they scattered in all directions, waving their arms, which made the situation worse until a nearby farmer stepped in. His love of the countryside is also reflected in his watercolours. He has a real talent and loves painting outdoors.”

Prince Charles, former Prince of Wales, poses for a photo at Highgrove House in Tetbury, England, on May 13, 2019. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images, For Clarence House)

British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that Charles had something in common with the goats on his property.

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King of Britain III. Charles goes for a walk in Seaford, England, on March 19, 2026. (Chris Jackson/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

“His wife told me how he can now outshine everyone, looking like an old goat!” he shouted.

“King Charles is most at home in the quiet countryside. Highgrove is his happy place where he relaxes and is away from royal duties. Its gardens and eco-friendly practices highlight his passion for sustainability. The four-acre wildflower meadow is now home to 120 different species. He’s even installed small ramps in all of his fountains and ponds to help hedgehogs escape if they fall.”

Former Prince Charles of Wales poses in the meadows at Highgrove House at the launch of the Coronation Meadows Initiative on June 5, 2013 in Tetbury, England. (Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“It is well documented that the king was an egg lover, dining on local and seasonal produce from his estate,” Chard said.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla pose for a portrait at Villa Wolkonsky in Rome, Italy, on April 7, 2025. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Buckingham Palace)

“They play a large part in his diet, with great emphasis on preparation times. He has been known to invite his guests for poached eggs after the hunt, washed down with whiskey. Charles was introduced to chicken farming by his beloved grandmother, the Queen Mother. He continues this tradition as a nod to animal welfare and sustainability.”

“He finds all his breeds as curious as he is. He is grateful for the constant supply of fresh organic eggs, and enjoys the personalities of his flock and the tranquility they experience while pecking around Cluckingham Palace and living their best lives.”

In this declaration image published on May 17, 2021, Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth and the Prince of Wales pose with the first Jubilee tree on the grounds of Windsor Castle on March 23, 2021 in Windsor, England. The tree was planted by the Prince of Wales to launch the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), a unique UK-wide tree planting initiative to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Fitzwilliams credits his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, with the king’s deep love for the countryside. He noted that it originated from Elizabeth. Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died in 2022, aged 96.

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King of Britain III. Charles smiles as he attends a reception inaugurating the King Charles III England Coast Path at the Seven Sisters National Nature Reserve in Seaford, England, on March 19, 2026. (Chris Jackson/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

“It is said that if Queen Elizabeth were not queen, she would be happy as a country lady among her corgis,” he said.

“King Charles inherited his father’s and mother’s love of the countryside. He was the first great figure. [in the U.K.] He began embracing environmental causes as early as 1970. It focuses on biodiversity, soil health and sustainability. He supports British farming and is a keen horseman, although his polo-playing days are long gone. “But he also participated in sporting activities around the country, including fishing in Scotland.”

King of Britain III. Charles and Queen Camilla unveiled their official coronation state portraits during a visit to The National Gallery in central London on May 6, 2025. (Chris Jackson/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Jackson told Fox News Digital in 2023 that he had learned a lot about the British royal family over the years. He explained that the King was known for logging in with his vintage Aston Martin, just like James Bond.

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“Did you know his Aston Martin has an ejection button? Probably not,” the royal photographer chuckled.

“He’s got a beautiful Aston Martin that runs on biofuel, which is basically excess wine and whey, and it’s pretty incredible,” Jackson said. “Obviously he’s very passionate about the environment, [and] He has a very nice car, the Aston Martin DB6 Volante, which is environmentally friendly.”

King Charles III looks on as the UK Ministry of Defense and the Royal British Legion attend a commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Ver-Sur-Mer, France, on June 6, 2024. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The king, a long-time advocate of sustainable living, purchased the car in 1970. He converted the car to run on biofuels, which use ethanol from cheese-making whey and wine. He lent his beloved vehicle to his son Prince William, who used it to transport his bride Kate Middleton from their wedding in 2011.

Prince William and Kate Middleton leave Buckingham Palace using the former Prince Charles’ car after their wedding reception in London on April 29, 2011. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Charles’s cousin, Lord Snowdon, once joked: “How come? [the former] Is Prince Charles driving his Aston Martin? Caerphilly.”

According to Jackson, Charles finds solace behind the palace gates. Gardening was his long-time hobby and his garden at Highgrove was described as his “pride and joy”. When she’s not feeding her chickens or collecting eggs, she paints landscapes or scenes from her travels.