King Charles starts making significant changes to Queen Elizabeth's homes - see inside
King Charles has made his first big change to Sandringham House following the late Queen Elizabeth II's death.
King Charles, 74, is making some environmentally friendly changes to his Norfolk estate, Sandringham House. As new photos show, King Charles has begun quite the transformation at Sandringham, making his mark on the Norfolk estate for the first time since the late Queen died last September.
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The King is digging up a large lawn on the west side of Sandringham House which is being turned into a topiary garden.
Not only will the new addition be visually interesting but improve the biodiversity of the area.
A series of new plants built to withstand harsh weather will be added, alongside a gravel path to allow visitors to explore the garden.
Work is expected to progress quickly, and to be open to the public by mid-May.
Sandringham was a favourite residence of the late Queen, who gathered her family there every Christmas, a tradition King Charles is continuing.
His late father, Prince Philip, also enjoyed spending time in Norfolk, living there most of the time following his retirement from public life.
King Charles' changes to Sandringham were announced last month in a statement from the palace.
It read: "In recent years, with changing weather patterns the current expanse of lawn has been affected by warm weather and excessive rainfall.
"The newly developed garden will introduce new species that are more robust, hardy and better able to withstand the impact of emerging weather patterns."
The monarch's Highgrove estate has also been made as environmentally friendly and organic as possible and boasts a working farm onsite.
Another change is coming to the Sandringham estate, with the upcoming addition of a new pub.
The plan is to breathe new life into the late Queen's former social club after it closed down two years ago.
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The royal estate is planning to lease out the vacant Victorian building for conversion into a pub while retaining the freehold.
The vacant premises are being advertised as a "unique opportunity for investment and upgrading for a new occupier and business as a public house with associated restaurant" on Landles letting estate's website.
The Sandringham Estate is far from a sweet little country home, and it actually a whopping 8,000 hectares.
One colossal room boasts red carpets with patterns of blue and orange. The walls are heavily decorated with marble, etchings, ornaments and paintings.
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There are cream floral armchairs for royals and guests to sit in, and the room is lit up by several lamps and candelabras. The ceiling is also majestically adorned with marble and paintings.
The Small Drawing Room is also very floral, filled with porcelain decorations, a beautiful chandelier, portraits and gold ornaments. A cosy table in the centre of the room boasts a little chair and tea set.
Another ground-floor room is green from top to bottom, with bright walls, wooden floors and a large dining table.
The Drawing Room boasts a gilded screen holding photos of some of the earliest guests to Sandringham House, including some actors and musicians of the time.
