A garden at Windsor Castle, reimagined and renamed according to designs by King Charles III, is opening its gates to the public today. The Venus Garden, formerly known as the East Terrace Garden, will be accessible to visitors as part of a standard castle entry until 13 September 2026. This marks a new chapter for a space with a rich history, having been intermittently open to the public in previous years, most recently during the summers of 2020 and 2021.
The current redesign draws inspiration from the orbital path of Venus around the sun. Richard Williams, the Royal Collection Trust's learning curator, highlighted the King's vision for the garden. He stated that the King aimed to establish a garden that showcases a wide array of planting, promotes biodiversity, and embodies principles of sustainability. This approach represents a significant shift from the garden's previous iteration, which predominantly featured rose bushes, creating what was largely a monoculture.
The new design significantly boosts biodiversity within the garden. It now includes expansive areas of wildflower meadows, which are expected to provide crucial habitats for a diverse range of creatures and insects. This ecological focus aligns with broader environmental concerns and the King's well-known advocacy for conservation and sustainable practices.
Adding a historical and artistic element to the redesigned space, a significant sculpture has been relocated into the garden. Planning permission was granted to move a sculpture depicting Hercules and the writhing serpent Achelous. This artwork was removed from Kew Gardens in autumn 2025, where it had resided since 1963. Its origins trace back to its purchase by George IV in 1829, and it was first installed in the Windsor Castle garden in 1909, making its return a full circle for the piece.
The garden itself has a long lineage, first established in the 1820s on the former site of King Charles II's bowling green. Over successive generations, members of the Royal Family have reshaped and influenced its layout. This latest redesign by King Charles III continues that tradition, imprinting his personal vision and environmental ethos onto a historically significant part of Windsor Castle.