Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision

Angela also chats with a few of The King’s Foundation’s famous Ambassadors, including the UK’s national gardening treasure Alan Titchmarsh CBE, while Sir David Beckham talks about how he is inspiring others to get into nature.

Offering us a fascinating front-row seat to King Charles III’s commitment to protecting our planet, a new landmark film charts his personal journey as an environmentalist, presented through the work of his nature and sustainability charity, The King’s Foundation.

Documenting His Majesty’s pioneering ‘Harmony’ philosophy and its profound impact worldwide, ‘Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision’ chronicles the King’s lifelong commitment to nature and the environment, infused with an invitation to rediscover our connection with nature for the good of people, places and the planet.

"It all boils down to the fact that we are actually nature ourselves. We are a part of it, not apart from it."

King Charles III

CHARLES III’s CHERISHED MEMORIES

Born in 1948, for over 50 years, our Monarch has been experimenting with ways to bring nature back into every part of our lives, striving to restore humankind’s harmony with the natural world.

Following his belief that "seeing is believing", the eco documentary, released earlier this year following its star-studded premiere at Windsor Castle, offers a vision of the future filled with optimism.

Filming took place over four continents, highlighting Harmony projects across the globe and revealing the King’s passion for nature and the environment and his philosophy as never before. Showcasing how he always been a serious environmental advocate and a deeply moving, strong and spiritual undercurrent, the film’s viewers travel with back in time with His Royal Highness as he watches historic footage and speaks about his grandmother, his childhood and his spiritual connection to nature.

"Childhood memories are so vital," says our Monarch. "My grandmother was a remarkable person I adored. She had the most wonderful, mischievous sense of everything, really. But also, her places, like the garden at Royal Lodge, were magical. She encouraged me to look at things, observe. It's fascinating the life that goes on at a microscopic level."

Cherished home videos show a young Prince Charles frolicking in gardens with his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and her corgis, on the beach with his sister, a young Princess Anne, leading ponies through meadows, and clambering over rocks and fishing with his late father, Prince Philip.

Later footage shows him casting off with a young Prince Harry and looking through binoculars with Prince William as a boy.

EXPLORATIONS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

"I’ve always loved the countryside and adored being outside," the King discloses. "And, as I got older, I took more-and-more of an interest and loved going out and exploring. So, for me, it’s an essential part of life to have that connection with the world outside."

An epic tale full of drama, showcasing The King's remarkable vision, lifelong dedication to sustainability and environmental stewardship, it’s hoped the film will inspire viewers worldwide to consider their own relationship with the natural world.

HARMONY WORLDWIDE, VOICED BY KATE WINSLET

Spanning 75 years of archive footage, the film is a sumptuous cinematic experience and riveting story of hope and resilience. Stunning cinematography, unique interviews and fascinating storytelling document how the King’s philosophy and vision has sparked a worldwide movement.

The documentary is beautifully narrated by Academy Award®-winning actress Kate Winslet. "I was deeply proud to become an Ambassador for The King’s Foundation but was even prouder when I was asked to provide the narration for this beautiful film," says Hollywood heavyweight Kate.

On being announced as the voice of ‘Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision’, the multi-award-winning actress said, "It is a both a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of this film, which is a fascinating insight into The King’s work as an environmentalist."

"I learnt so much about the philosophy of Harmony and how simple it is, both in concept and in practice, just through the experience of telling His Majesty’s story within this extraordinary documentary."

"I share His Majesty’s passion for protecting our planet and building sustainable communities," she continued. "So, it's been really rewarding to work with The King’s Foundation on this exciting project - the King's untold personal story that shows us how Harmony can transform our future. I know audiences will learn, laugh and feel inspired by the film, and I hope the impact of ‘Harmony’ will be felt in years to come."

FINDING HARMONY: A KING’S VISION

With the Monarch’s urgent message that we must put nature back at the heart of the equation, the timely documentary dedicated to an extraordinary environmental legacy aims to act as a call to action, impassioning people to protect our planet and create a more sustainable future for the next generation.

This fascinating film is about positivity when we need it most. All over the world, nature is in devastating decline, with the effects increasingly hard to ignore.

On the fight to save the planet, "It's rapidly going backwards," declares the King. "I've said that for the last 40 years. I can only do what I can do, which is not very much. People don't seem to understand it's not just climate that's the problem, it's also biodiversity loss... So, we’re actually destroying our means of survival, all the time. To put that back together again is possible, but we should have been doing it long ago. We’ve got to do it as fast as we can now."

"For nearly every problem we face, nature, with the benefit of billions of years of evolution, has already provided us with the solutions."

King Charles III

The insightful documentary offers something for all, showing how our green-thinking Monarch, as Prince of Wales, pursued early environmentalism, speaking up for the science behind biodiversity loss, deforestation and climate change long before these issues became mainstream.

The film aims to spark understanding and positive change, outlining his battle with architecture through to the life-changing work of his charity, The King’s Foundation, whose vision is a world where we live in harmony with nature to improve the wellbeing of people, places and the planet.

‘Harmony’ explores the origins, evolution and scientific foundations of The King's philosophy. We learn about his work at both home – the Duchy organic farm at Highgrove, in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, the restoration of Dumfries House in Scotland – and his ventures overseas, from rebuilding traditional architecture in Afghanistan, to conserving the Amazon rainforest.

A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE - AT ONE WITH NATURE

Produced by Passion Planet - a documentary arm of PASSION PICTURES (London), a triple Academy Award®-winning independent production studio with a global reputation for groundbreaking, thought-provoking and impactful documentaries - in collaboration with The King’s Foundation for Amazon MGM Studios, the film reveals our Head of State’s passionate promotion of positive global change.

"Never has it been more important for the world to make a concerted effort to protect and prioritise our planet, and to restore our relationship with it," says the King. "It is, therefore, my fondest hope that this film may encourage a new audience to learn about the philosophy of Harmony and, perhaps, inspire the same sense of determination it has given me to help build a more sustainable future."

THE KING’S FOUNDATION

Founded by King Charles III as Prince of Wales in 1990, The King’s Foundation is a global charity inspired by His Majesty’s ‘Harmony’ philosophy and deeply personal mission.

Protecting and promoting The King's philosophy of Harmony, the charity spearheads placemaking and regeneration projects in the UK and overseas to revitalise communities and historic buildings, alongside offering education courses in traditional skills, with a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.

All charitable activity at The King’s Foundation has nature and sustainability at its core, and the educational curriculum is based on the philosophy of Harmony, which also forms the basis of the charity's educational curriculum. Working to build sustainable communities, helping people play an active role and coexist with places and the planet in harmony, 15,000 students annually learn practical skills rooted in nature and tradition.

Believing the most beautiful buildings draw upon their surroundings (both built and natural) to harmonise, its architecture projects focus on traditional urban design and architecture principles centred around communities' people, creating thousands of jobs and successfully contributing to community regeneration.

While their heritage skills programmes inspire to create environments drawing on a vast array of traditional and sustainable approaches, materials and techniques, many of which are in danger of being lost, thereby helping to preserve our historic environments whilst respecting the architecture, narratives and unique qualities these places and spaces convey.

HOLLYWOOD ROYALTY AT STAR-STUDDED ‘HARMONY’ PREMIERE

The King and Queen were joined by The Duchess of Edinburgh and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at the Royal Premiere of ‘Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision’.

A-list Ambassadors for The King’s Foundation were also in attendance, including the film’s narrator Kate Winslet, and singing sensation Sir Rod Stewart and his model wife, Lady Penny Lancaster, playing an essential role in raising awareness of the Harmony philosophy.

Hollywood actors Dame Judi Dench, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Stanley Tucci and astronaut Tim Peake and and showbiz reporter Richard Arnold also graced the green carpet, showing their support.

A ROYAL FIRST AT WINDSOR CASTLE

A historic royal fortress founded by William the Conqueror, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, showcasing centuries of architectural evolution and serving as a private home and official residence for British monarchs for over 900 years.

"The first time a film premiere has taken place in a royal residence, only a film this special, this important, could be given such an appropriate maiden voyage," said ‘Titanic’ star Kate Winslet on opening the screening. "And only a very unique individual could merit such a film."

"His Majesty's vision is now brought to life through the work he does with his nature and sustainability charity, The King's Foundation, but beyond this vital work, he has also made a remarkable film."

The screening took place in the Waterloo Chamber, a principal State Room often used by Members of the Royal Family for Investitures, with a colourful history of being used as a venue for theatre and pantomime productions under previous Monarchs.

Queen Victoria regularly used the Waterloo Chamber for seasons of Shakespeare and contemporary productions, plus it was used for Christmas pantomimes between 1941 and 1944 by Queen Elizabeth II as a child.

Designed to commemorate The Duke of Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo, the fitting location at the active royal palace was transformed into a sustainable state-of-the-art cinema screening room.

THE WATERLOO CHAMBER - SUSTAINABLE TOUCHES

The Waterloo Chamber was dressed in florals and foliage sourced from the Royal Gardens Nursery situated in the private Home Park surrounding Windsor Castle.

English garden natives, such as ivy, were used throughout the schemes, with pittosporum also included for their variegated patterns. The plants were selected due to their evergreen nature, good structure and seasonal interest to create the most impactful displays, alongside plants from the temperate house, including Kentia palms, giving impressive green tropical structure throughout the State Apartments - a nod to the global nature of the documentary. Following the prestigious event, all foliage went back to the estate gardens to be replanted and used for future events at Windsor Castle.

What’s more, for every attendee, The King’s Foundation planted two trees in The Harmony Forest at its headquarters, Dumfries House, while wildflower-seeded seating cards allowed attendees to plant after the event.

With a dress code encouraging guests not to buy new, but to rewear, repair or recycle, other sustainable touches at the premiere saw all attendees receive a reusable green Windsor Castle water bottle, while electric buggies were used to transport them around the grounds.

CHANEL X KING’S FOUNDATION MÉTIERS D’ART X LE19M

Members of the Royal Family, including Her Majesty The Queen, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester, wore handcrafted and embroidered brooches by graduates of the CHANEL & King’s Foundation Métiers d’Art Embroidery Fellowship in partnership with Le19M, based at Highgrove, home to the King and the birthplace of Harmony.

The King's Foundation Ambassador Lady Penny Lancaster also proudly displayed a sustainable brooch while her husband, Sir Rod Stewart, wore bee cufflinks. Showcasing organic elements, these stunning accessories were specially selected to fit the film premiere's theme of 'Rewear, Repair or Recycle', showcasing the traditional skills taught by The King's Foundation that His Majesty is so passionate about.

Highlighting their work to protect and promote these age-old crafts to help stop them dying out, the CHANEL & King's Foundation Fellowship in partnership with Le19M trains future master craftspeople in skills on the Red List for Endangered Crafts.

A mixture of mohair wool, Swarovski crystals, peacock feathers, silk organza, sequins, ceramic stones, metal beads, vintage glass, metal goldwork thread and silver-plated wire were used to create these very special pieces.

REFLECTIONS FROM KATE WINSLET

Kate Winslet introduced the motivating film by sharing reflections on her experience of narrating the documentary and learning more about His Majesty's work.

"Your Majesty, it is thanks to your great vision and foresight in protecting our natural world that we are all here this evening, and I know it is our shared hope that this film will advance the philosophy of Harmony in order to achieve a wider understanding, and in far-reaching, impactful ways."

She continued, "Your Majesty I know that for you, this documentary has been a lifetime in the making. Thank you for being an inspiration to us all, with your passionate approach towards promoting the positive change that you sincerely long to see across the globe. And thank you for hosting us here in the magnificent Windsor Castle, and to your exceptional team for assembling tonight's beautiful event. What an incredible privilege it is to be here."

Giving some insight into the Harmony theory before the viewing, Kate told guests, "Harmony is a beautiful theory. One that invites us to see ourselves as a part of nature and to tackle the world's climate challenges using an interconnected, nature-first approach."

The film shows how this theory has already been put into practice around the world, "in so many inspirational ways, across a multitude of different cultures."

Modern life encourages us to forget our relationship with nature - Harmony is about remembering it.

HARMONY HIGHBALL COCKTAILS + LOCALLY SOURCED MENU

Following the screening, their Majesties spent time with their guests, those involved in the documentary and Ambassadors of the King's Foundation in the Grand Reception Room.

A special 'Harmony Highball' cocktail was created by the Royal Household to commemorate this very special event, while the menu for the glamorous evening reception used ingredients sourced from the nearby Windsor Estate:

MENU

Pressed Herb Roasted Norfolk Chicken — With Sweet Potato Mash, Spinach, Corn, Shallot & Thyme Jus

Mushroom Risotto

Panna Cotta

Apple Crumble

Rhubarb and Vanilla Trifle

A group from the National Piping Centre, comprising harp, fiddle, flute, small pipes and whistles, performed ahead of the screening and during the post-screening reception.

The King's Foundation works closely with the National Piping Centre, including on its Piping for Health breath management course at the Dumfries House Health and Wellbeing Centre. The course supports people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung conditions, through learning to play the instruments, helping to regulate breathing, increase lung capacity, and lower blood pressure.

GARDENING GURU ALAN TITCHMARSH TALKS HARMONY

The UK’s national gardening treasure guru and King's Foundation Ambassador, Alan Titchmarsh CBE, exclusively tells me our 'green' King is incredibly practical and hands on.

"His Majesty the King is such a great inspiration and wants to get stuck in. A man who doesn’t just say 'something should be done', he gets out there and does it. I am full of admiration."

Alan Titchmarsh CBE

Referring to rural Britain as "one of the greatest treasures of our nation," the organic horticulturist says the King cares deeply about the countryside and welfare of its communities. "The need for us all to work in harmony with nature is something The King has been encouraging us to do all his adult life. It's a passion I share and something that is an integral part of responsible gardening."

Maintaining a healthy agricultural sector is vital, not just because the landscape relies on the accumulated knowledge of farming communities for its continued stewardship, but also because the social fabric of the countryside depends on a strong farming base.

Alan says we have, sadly, become detached from rural life. "I've had 60 years of working with nature, in the garden, working outside. There's no better life, getting yourself properly in touch with the earth."

The nation's favourite gardener gives rural life a voice. "It's important. It's our children's legacy. And it's great, beautiful, comforting, real and our responsibility. We need to enjoy the present but always have an eye to the future and sustainability and all do our bit."

"Passionate about working with nature rather than fighting it, the King has that in common with all responsible gardeners. It's up to all of us to work in harmony with nature. The planet benefits and so do we."

TEAMING UP WITH DAVID BECKHAM FOR THE RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

Top TV horticultural Alan tells me he is honoured to have a role with The King's Foundation. "It's a superb organisation and I'm especially pleased to be a part of an initiative to encourage horticultural apprenticeships, alongside keen amateur gardener David Beckham."

The green-fingered eco champion is teaming up with fellow Ambassador Sir David for this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show, held by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), and for which Alan is also an Ambassador and Vice President.

"David, like me, is determined to make a difference and explain why gardening and horticulture is so important to us as a nation," Alan reveals to me. "If we can get more people to understand its value and importance, we will help to ensure our land and landscape is cherished for the benefit of future generations. David absolutely loves the rural life and has a great garden in the Cotswolds. He gets so much out of doing it and is a great role model."

Championed by King Charles III, who is also Patron of the RHS, the two charities are creating 'The Curious Garden' with horticulturist and TV presenter Frances Tophill, to engage people with the Great Outdoors and to be curious in their own gardening endeavours and the vital contribution plants make to people, places and the planet's health.

"Aside from celebrating the real joy that gardening brings to our lives, we will be highlighting how simply growing more plants helps mitigate both the biodiversity and climate crises and, therefore, why gardeners, from enthusiastic new gardeners to incredible skilled horticulturists, are more important today than ever," Alan reveals.

DAVID BECKHAM ON INSPIRING OTHERS TO GET INTO NATURE

"My love for the countryside started when I was a child visiting my grandparents," Sir David Beckham explains. "I've experienced how rewarding gardening can be, and that's why I'm looking forward to working with The RHS and The King's Foundation on their Curious Garden. I hope we inspire people to get outside into nature and try something new."

The Curious Garden will be brimming with take-home ideas for beautiful pockets of nature, be it on a windowsill or garden. "Simply growing more plants helps mitigate both the biodiversity and climate crises." Alan advises.

David and Alan will join TV horticulturist, 'Love Your Garden' and 'Gardeners' World' presenter Frances Tophill on her journey to create the special garden for the world's most famous flower show.

"I'm so excited to share my first garden for RHS Chelsea Flower Show," says Frances. "With input from His Majesty The King, Alan Titchmarsh and Sir David Beckham, I've had a lot of fun incorporating elements both celebrating their involvement and ideas they have contributed."

FINDING HARMONY: THE FILM

Harmony isn't simply a concept or philosophy; it's grounded in practical action and projects, and one of the keys is to use the best of the past to create something new and sustainable.

It comes out of the King's love and fascination for the way the natural world operates, and his ideas about man's place in the natural world.

"Nature is our sustainer," he says. "Therefore, what we do to her, we do to ourselves. But we have forgotten that we need to give back to nature in return for what we take from her."

A guide and a practical framework, the documentary underscores that caring for our planet is not at odds with progress. It's also a reminder that sustainability isn't an isolated effort - it touches everything.

The King has dedicated his life to finding solutions that benefit the environment, which can also drive economic opportunity and create superior experiences for all. One of his ambitions is that instead of disposing or wasting, we maximise products' and materials' lengths; using, reusing, repairing and recycling. And that we all use indigenous wisdom to reform how we do business to create a circular economy that prospers in harmony with nature.

"That partnership between the public, private and indigenous people is, I think, the absolute key to our future," he says.

TERRA CARTA & COP

To signify this partnership, the King authored the Terra Carta: an initiative where hundreds of businesses and governments have pledged to become sustainable. He has also made speeches at COP, the world's most important meeting on climate change.

At the forefront of championing sustainability, the King was ahead of his time decades ago when he talked about green issues and he spoke up for the science behind biodiversity loss, deforestation and climate change long before these issues became mainstream.

In 1970, at the age of just 21, The King warned of the dangerous effects of plastic pollution on the environment. He instinctively felt that we were losing our closeness and affinity to nature - and at our peril.

But he faced opposition. On pioneering organic farming, for example, people dismissed his plans.

Headlines back then ridiculed and accused His Royal Highness of being out of joint with the times.

However, he remained focused. "I just felt this was the approach that I was going to stick to. A course I set and wasn't going to be diverted from."

Now, of course, he's bang on trend. During the last decade, the negative impact of natural resource depletion, climate change and rapid urbanisation has become clear.

A GLOBAL ‘HARMONY’ MOVEMENT

The film features The King's own reflections on his lifelong commitment to promoting a sustainable world, as he views special archive footage from across the decades.

Watching an archive speech of himself, as Prince of Wales, speaking about pollution, he says, "Well, it was quite a long time ago and I remember being profoundly concerned about all this. It seemed crazy to go on without thinking carefully about how we manage all this."

RESTORING HARMONY BETWEEN HUMANITY, NATURE & THE ENVIRONMENT

Very much in tune with the times, today, His Majesty's philosophy, Harmony, is igniting transformations all over the world. Finding Harmony charts how The King's Foundation, headquartered at its flagship regeneration project Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, has sparked a global 'Harmony' movement.

Featuring previously unseen footage, from sustainable urbanism, community regeneration and traditional skills to ethical textiles and food production, the film documents how the model of sustainable community regeneration at Dumfries House, pioneered by The King's Foundation, has inspired similar projects all around the globe.

Whether it's how we educate, work our land, build our communities or approach our health and wellbeing, Harmony is about rethinking how we live and work.

SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS

As The Prince of Wales, he launched sustainability initiatives aimed at finding solutions and delivering practical outcomes. "I have sought to promote and encourage ways we can work with, rather than against, nature, to restore balance to our planet which is under such stress," he says.

His dogged determination and sheer commitment a testament to this perseverance, the poignant new documentary tells the story of the King's challenges and triumphs throughout his lifelong commitment to the philosophy of Harmony and the environment, and his battle to bring nature and humanity into harmony.

"Throughout his life, the King has developed a core set of beliefs about our world, which have, at times, got him into trouble," Kate explains in the film.

Showing us the power of resilience, and how following your intuition can transform the world, he reminds us, "We have to get this done."

Despite early criticism of his beliefs, his views have struck a common chord. Proof that placing green spaces at the heart of communities results in life-changing outcomes, now seems the right time to share the story of Harmony with the world.

CLIMATE CHANGE, DEFORESTATION & OCEAN POLLUTION

In the poignant new documentary film, Kate explains how people who practice Harmony invite us to see the world in a new way, suggesting the very things we've become disconnected from may hold the key to our future, claiming that, even if we have broken nature, once we bring her back, the land, people and communities can heal, meaning that maybe the future is full of hope.

In the context of global challenges that include climate change, deforestation and ocean pollution, the King has promoted sustainability to ensure that the natural assets upon which we all depend, such as soil, water, forests, a stable climate and fish stocks, endure for future generations.

And he believes everyone has a role to play in tackling even the most complex sustainability challenges facing our world, from Heads of State and chief executives to local community projects and to young people. His unique ability to bring people together has proved a powerful way to find solutions and inspire.

"I've tried to demonstrate how Harmony in practice could be made to work rather than just talk about all these things," he says.

SACRED GEOMETRY & THE KING’S BATTLE WITH ARCHITECTURE

The King's early charity work at the Institute for Architecture laid the foundations for The King's Foundation, which works to build sustainable communities and transform lives through teaching practical heritage skills and leading green community regeneration projects.

An early voice questioning contemporary construction, the King's battle with architecture has been well documented. With many of our modern buildings blank and impersonal and withnature being erased, his focus was on the way we build our cities and towns, and his deep connection between the built and natural world.

"As a teenager in the '60s, I saw so much being destroyed around us," he recalls. "Our precious flourished meadows, wetlands and hedges were ripped up and trees cut down, our towns and city centres ripped out, all at a huge pace. I remember thinking, this is going to go too far."

Searching for a better way to build, the then Prince Charles started a school for designers and architects, looking at the constantly creative order of nature and the unity that holds the world and our existence together.

Scholars call it sacred geometry, or the grammar of harmony, mapping the many patterns that recur across space and time and focusing on the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of living in balance with nature.

HARMONY: A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD

Key to the Harmony philosophy is learning from traditional wisdom, encouraging ecological awareness, and respecting the natural world. It strongly believes looking at the world in this way and understanding nature is at human wellbeing and prosperity's core, emphasising the urgent need to take practical action to protect and restore the climate, planet and, ultimately, build a sustainable future.

His Majesty's 2010 book, 'Harmony: A New Way of Looking at the World,' co-authored with Tony Juniper and Ian Skelly, highlights the fusion of humankind with nature, rebuilding from the disconnect that happened post-war, when the concrete jungles emerged at the expense of nature.

Historians call it the ‘Great Acceleration’. And all this progress came at a price.

THE POUNDBURY PROJECT

Inspired by ideas at his school of architecture, Prince Charles' concerns saw him challenge the way Britain was developing its towns and cities into "a monstrous concrete maze" of industrialised architecture with "no charm, no character." He knew another way of thinking about and building urban design had a better chance of cohering communities, rather than ignoring community needs.

Putting his architecture ideas into practice on a large scale on his own land, farmland owned by the Duchy of Cornwall near Dorchester, the Prince designed a new town, Poundbury, and set about solving problems plaguing modern cities.

KEEPING TRADITIONAL SKILLS ALIVE

With Poundbury designed around nature and proving access to green spaces is crucial for mental wellbeing, The Institute for Architecture worked to build other sustainable towns and cities around urban green space.

Its traditional arts and sustainable skills enriching our changing world, creating spaces that value both people and planet, the school encourages collaboration and makers to flourish in their artisanal endeavours.

Since 1990, The King's Foundation has influenced the sustainable design of 175+ communities worldwide. 350,000 homes influenced by its town planning, sustainable urbanisation and engagement resources have improved over half a million people's quality of life, positively impacting through its approach to sustainable urbanisation and town planning.

Alongside work in the built environment for communities facing rapid urbanisation worldwide, The King's Foundation delivers education opportunities. From beginner-to-advanced workshops, summer schools and masterclasses celebrating age-old skills, to STEM and longer programmes focusing on aerospace, green energy, environmental science and sustainable design, whether its architecture, urbanism, heritage and regeneration, or fashion, food, farming, health and wellbeing, traditional arts and crafts are taught, too, helping to keep them alive.

Promoting sustainable practices, preserving traditional skills, and improving the quality of life for communities worldwide at various heritage sites, their programmes improve access to, and understanding of, the natural world, influencing the next generation of leaders in healthcare, urbanisation and beyond.

WORKING & HEALING WITH NATURE

The Monarch may have lived a life apart, yet his views have struck a common chord. Everything thoughtfully connected, his charity's projects and programmes are living examples of what it looks like when you work WITH nature rather than against it.

Today, more than ever, people flock to The King's Foundation's venues to learn how to create Harmony for their own families and communities, with the core belief that nature has the power to both teach and heal.

Championing climate awareness and sustainability, advocating Harmony globally and creating sustainable communities on an international scale, the charity practises and teaches the principles of nature that underpin architecture, horticulture, farming and wellbeing, improving both people's and our planet's future.

PRESERVING HERITAGE SITES

Headquartered at its flagship 'Harmony' regeneration project, Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, The King's Foundation and His Majesty have transformed this formerly run-down estate into a living presentation of the Harmony principles.

"This film will, I hope, demonstrate just some of the remarkable work being done around the world to put Harmony into practice through the work of my King's Foundation at Dumfries House and Highgrove," says the King.

The charity also acts as custodian of other historic Royal sites, including the Castle of Mey in Scotland, and Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire, where the King's first passion project played out.

Accessible to the public, these heritage sites are home to the outdoor skills and traditional crafts education programmes and welcome millions of visitors to watch the charity's work in action. The charity carries out its work at educational and cultural hubs in London, too, based at The King's Foundation School for Traditional Arts in Shoreditch, Trinity Buoy Wharf on the River Thames and the Garrison Chapel in Chelsea.

In addition to its UK presence at heritage sites across the UK, the Foundation delivers programmes and projects in over a dozen sites worldwide.

A STUNNING STAY AT THE SCOTTISH CASTLE OF MEY

The Castle of Mey was the treasured holiday home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

Discover the enchanting castle's fascinating history and stunning grounds, set in the beautiful landscape of Caithness, with a luxury stay at this glorious Highland retreat.

The striking Scottish castle is a perfectly preserved testament to The Queen Mother and her love for the local area, while the adjacent walled garden is the northernmost garden on mainland Scotland.

FROM A HIGHLAND RETREAT TO HIGHGROVE – THE BIRTHPLACE OF HARMONY

Since 1980, when His Majesty first arrived at Highgrove, now the private countryside residence of Charles III and Queen Camilla, with plans to turn his historic new home into a test bed for his radical ideas about Harmony, the King has devoted much time and energy to transforming the gardens, renowned as some of the UK’s most inspiring and innovative.

Originally, the Georgian neo-classical house had little more than a neglected kitchen garden, an overgrown copse, pastureland and a few hollow oaks. Our green-fingered King has ensured the survival of many different varieties of vegetables, explaining how maintaining rare breeds increases genetic diversity and biodiversity.

"I wanted to find ways of ensuring we could rescue all these threatened heritage varieties of everything," the King discloses. His efforts to protect the diversity of fruits and vegetables was a part of his overall mission to bring nature back into farming and gardening.

"All the vegetables, potatoes, cauliflower, peas… A lot of them were just being abandoned. So, I did my utmost to have as many rare breeds here as possible to demonstrate how valuable they are. Because concentrating on just a few varieties makes us unbelievably vulnerable, as we are finding, to disease and everything else."

Creating a sustainable space fit for a king, the gardens have undergone many thoughtful innovations, with His Majesty taking steps personally to live in a more sustainable way and managing the gardens and the Estate at Highgrove organically.

Demonstrating how soil fertility can be naturally restored, the gardens, woods, parkland and farms are all run within a regime that works with nature, rather than with the aid of chemical fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides.

Ethical management and recycling of waste materials ensure the land here thrives in harmony with nature, with the success of this first Harmony experiment inspiring nature-based farming practices and regenerative agriculture on a global scale.

CLUCKINGHAM PALACE

For the film, the King warmly welcomes cameras into his living room and garden, where he's seen pruning hedges and shows us his fun sense of humour as he feeds his rare-breed chickens in a hen coop he calls Cluckingham Palace!

"When I first came 45 years ago, I used to hear cuckoos and you never hear a single cuckoo now. And grasshoppers… the place used to hum," His Majesty laments. "That wonderful sound, you don't get much of that, even though I've done my utmost to, you know, make sure."

THE SANCTUARY

Hidden among the trees at Highgrove stands The Sanctuary, a small ornate building designed on the principles of sacred geometry and constructed entirely from natural materials, including cob (earth) walls, Bath stone foundations and a traditional Cotswold stone roof.

Inscribed above the door of this serene place of quiet contemplation are the words "Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord." "I had this quote from a prayer book," he explains, and reflects on the 'universal principles' that govern the entire cosmos. "That's the other point of harmony. How do you link the two together? Because we are a microcosm of the microcosm. There are universal principles which seem to apply. Our bodies are constructed around these proportionate systems, as all the rest of nature."

Sustainably built by the Monarch to mark the millennium, he's asked in the film if The Sanctuary is where he finds his harmony. "A little bit, I hope, and ask for more of it really, for everybody else," he replies.

ECO FASHION INNOVATIONS AT HIGHGROVE

Highgrove Gardens also proves an eco-haven for pioneering sustainable fashion designers Vin + Omi, who collect waste here, which they cleverly turn into textiles to create outfits for their global Fashion Week shows.

"The then Prince Charles suggested we use the nettles from Highgrove and the whole process was smooth and aided by his great team of gardeners," they tell me. "The resulting collection was very well received!"

The multi-award-winning designer duo wage war on plastic pollution, too, turning river-collected plastic waste into revolutionary outfits. Working holistically with their textile products based on science, social and environmental awareness and problem solving, they bring the sustainable WOW factor to their celebrity catwalks.

Eco-fashion warriors Vin + Omi count Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus and Michelle Obama among their famous fans and work internationally to reduce the environmental footprint of the fashion world.

LORD SNOWDON SCHOOL OF FURNITURE

Curated by renowned furniture maker Lord Snowdon, Vice President of The King's Foundation, the Snowdon School of Furniture at Highgrove Gardens offers courses for designers, makers, landowners, councils and the public, teaching holistic thinking about how we value and use wood.

"There is such satisfaction to be enjoyed from having a hand in influencing the life cycle of that raw material," says Lord Snowdon. "Developing a greater understanding of the materials with which you work, appreciating their provenance, and then turning them into something beautiful to be enjoyed and treasured."

Two flagship courses for designers and makers focused on furniture-making skills using British timber are accompanied by the CREATE residential programme, a modern approach to traditional skills.

CHANEL LE19M ATELIER AT HIGHGROVE & PARIS

Also based at Highgrove, CHANEL and The King's Foundation deliver two training programmes in partnership with le19M – the Métiers d'art Embroidery Fellowship and Métiers d'art Millinery Fellowship.

This specialist postgraduate-level programme provides training opportunities in the field of Embroidery for Haute Couture and the Luxury Fashion Industry Atelier - a converted 17th-century house and farm buildings on the edge of the Highgrove estate - and at le19M in Paris.

With teaching delivered by artisans and highly skilled tutors, mentorship and guidance comes from Creative Directors from Maisons d'art such as Lesage, Atelier Montex and Lemarié.

Millinery students draw inspiration for their designs from the beautiful Highgrove Gardens and take part in a range of special events throughout the year to develop their craft as artisan hatmakers, including Royal Ascot.

RESTORING DUMFRIES HOUSE: ‘THE HOME OF HARMONY’

In 2007, the then Prince of Wales saved Dumfries House for the nation, ensuring a hugely significant heritage asset could remain in Scotland for the benefit of Great Britain and the local community.

Following his success at Highgrove, Dumfries House, originally built as a home for the 5th Earl of Dumfries in the 1700s, became a catalyst for regeneration of the local area.

Gambling his reputation on a dream much larger and more complex than Highgrove, with this ramshackle property his plan was to heal the house, the land, and scale up to bring Harmony to the surrounding community, too, as a 'whole'.

"When I discovered Dumfries House was due to be sold and everything in it, I felt it was critical to demonstrate how you could regenerate an entire area, help raise aspirations and create new hope by bringing people together in a thoroughly integrated, collaborative way," the King explains.

Unable to find stonemasons or carpenters to restore the house or sustainable hospitality programmes, The King's Foundation put nature at the centre and started teaching courses, resulting in phenomenal projects coming to life.

The King successfully transformed a dilapidated 18th-century estate into a living illustration of sustainability in action. Now one of Britain's most stunning stately homes and a great example of how you can create new business and jobs in the green economy, Dumfries House isn't just a beautifully preserved, historic home; it's a vibrant campus for education, traditional skills, sustainable agriculture and community development.

This important example of heritage-led regeneration is known as "the home of Harmony" - a 2,000-acre estate open free-of-charge to the public 365 days a year, offering a flagship model of how Harmony can work in practice. Its salvation started with the community, employing locals who benefitted from jobs and training, causing a ripple effect and inspiring numerous other projects.

Having healed the local community, bringing a new vitality, this ambitious conservation and refurbishment successfully restored the original interiors and many pieces of 18th-century furniture and art, alongside creating a state-of-the-art Hospitality Training Centre, turning an impressive idea into a thriving reality improving lives.

As a channel for regeneration of the local area, Dumfries House is a real-life showcase of Harmony, also displaying one of the world's largest collections of Chippendale furniture.

Walking around Dumfries House, you can see how everything interconnects; the organic farms feed into local kitchens, the buildings are restored using traditional, sustainable techniques, while the woodlands are managed for biodiversity. This holistic approach has breathed new life into the region, a testament to The King's vision and persistence.

Step into a stunning piece of history that has been incredibly preserved by The King's Foundation, which led the restoration of the historic house in line with its unique history and heritage.

The estate's buildings were repurposed in innovative ways:

The 18th-century coach house and stable became a buzzing café, the sawmill was renovated to full working order and turned into the craft workshops, equipped with classroom, wood workshop and stonemason's shed.

A new arboretum, complete with woodland shelter, was designed and built by the Foundation's Summer School students.

The Queen Elizabeth Walled Garden was among the most ambitious projects, opened to the public by the late Queen.

An interlinked series of gardens now unfolds in a succession of personal and inspiring tableaux, each reflecting HM The King's interests and enthusiasms.

Dumfries House Lodge now offers Michelin Key accommodation in an exclusive country guest house on the estate, beautifully renovated from a derelict farm building.

HARMONY IN PRACTICE - A CATALYST FOR REGENERATION

Over the past 36 years, The King's Foundation has multiple defining moments in its history, including the acquisition of Dumfries House, where the charity's philosophy and practices are highlighted.

Continuing to evolve as a model others worldwide can learn from, each element built based on community needs, everyone at Dumfries House belongs to a larger ecosystem; from the farm, restaurant and house to the woodworkers and textile designers, everyone strives to live sustainably from the land.

For a community to flourish, harmonious order and balance are essential. Now one of the biggest employers in the area, Dumfries House has become a driver for the economy, training 10,000 people a year and delivering tangible benefits from Harmony.

And as a major local employer and education campus, spanning food, farming, fashion, textiles, traditional crafts, hospitality and more, its Engineering Education facility is Europe's largest-of-its-kind, providing school programmes in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

The site provides inspiration and new connections through nature for learners of all ages, offering opportunities to train in real-life skills, whether it's woodwork, horticulture, engineering, organic farming or other fields.

Working with the Rare Breeds Trust, the farm, meanwhile, teaches preservation and sustainability in farming through a selection of rare livestock, along with programmes in horticulture and farm-to-fork education for young people.

CREATIVE REGENERATION PROPERTY PROJECTS + TRADITIONAL URBAN DESIGN

The King's Foundation's success working with communities on community regeneration, food production and other projects inspires similar ventures worldwide.

Putting into practice their design principles responsive to local traditions, cultures and climates, the charity's work is recognised for its commitment to excellence in traditional craft and its role in reviving skills vital to historic buildings' repair and conservation, along with proving placing green spaces at communities' hearts results in life-changing outcomes.

The Royal founding Patron of the charity's exciting new film illustrates this dedication to creating sustainable communities through architecture and design prioritising the wellbeing of people and the environment.

Reinvigorating existing buildings through creative redevelopment preserves heritage and revitalises communities, protecting the collective memory of these places whilst tackling the challenges we face today.

UPSKILLING THE NEXT GENERATION OF MASTER CRAFTSPEOPLE

For those in construction and craft, and designers exploring routes into decorative building traditions, the charity's Building Arts and Crafts courses promote and preserve heritage practices, upskilling the next generation of master craftspeople.

The King's Foundation believe it is crucial to preserve the wisdom and knowledge that embodies many of the traditional building skills which have shaped our historical built environment. It is vital that these skills are passed on, so we can continue to restore and conserve our history.

HERITAGE SKILLS + CONSERVATION PROGRAMMES

Demonstrating the role that time-honoured craft skills can play in creating new spaces and places, these heritage skills programmes aim to inspire the next generation to create a built environment that draws on a vast array of traditional and sustainable approaches, using materials and techniques in danger of dying out.

Craft and conservation skills taught in the fields of design and build include blacksmithing, thatching, stonemasonry, lime plastering, technical drawing, stained glasswork and dry-stone walling, with the studios at Highgrove bringing together existing and aspiring designers and makers in textiles and furniture and associated crafts, such as stone and wood carving.

SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION, GREEN SPACES + UNIVERSITY COURSES

The charity provides training for all levels and abilities and supports and delivers education opportunities for postgraduate students in architecture and urbanism, decorative building art, architecture, craft traditions and more, teaching how factors respond to the local identity of historic contexts in a timeless and ecological way so they can be applied in the 21st century.

A cross-disciplinary programme at Swansea University enables a new generation of leaders to come up with practical engineering solutions to build in resilience and support and improve the quality of life for local communities facing rapid urbanisation worldwide.

Aiming to create solutions for the threats of climate change and loss of biodiversity and natural habitats, the course creates practitioners who can think and act both rapidly and flexibly.

TIME TO TAKE ACTION

With the scale of His Majesty's power and long-term thinking, our Monarch's singular motivation has always been to use his position to help positive change.

Now, it's time to share his Harmony story with the world. "We simply cannot waste any more time," the King warns. "The time to act is now."

"We simply cannot waste any more time. The time to act is now."

King Charles III

Using his unique position, plus the power of storytelling, to articulate a philosophy that belongs to all of us, the King champions action for a sustainable future through this captivating documentary, which aims to spark understanding and positive change.

For half a century, the King has demonstrated his respect and reverence for nature and hopes his new documentary will inspire others to take action, too. Of the state of the world, he says, "It's been my main motivation for a long, long time, and you can see what's happening. We need to follow the underlying principles behind what I call 'Harmony' if we're going to somehow ensure that this poor old planet can support so, so many. It's unlikely there's anywhere else."

Kristina Murrin CBE, Chief Executive of The King's Foundation, says they hope the film and ethos of their headquarters, Dumfries House, will be a catalyst for community regeneration that will inspire more action across the globe.

"We are proud to have stood beside the King for the past 36 years of his Harmony journey, and it is both moving and inspiring to see that journey committed to film. Our work spans many of the King's passions, whether that be protecting traditional skills, teaching young people about nature and the outdoors, or building green towns and cities with sustainability at its core. It's gratifying to see this work represented on screen."

As the vehicle which protects and promotes the King's pioneering environmental philosophy, the charity brings together a whole variety of different people, from presidents and thought leaders to farmers and academics.

"This documentary is incredibly important to The King's Foundation," she explains. "And we are delighted to have the support of our Ambassador Kate Winslet in helping to bring the film to life. The film has been a real labour of love for The King's Foundation, and we are thrilled that audiences are going to get a better insight into what we do as an organisation."

For decades, The King's Foundation has been at the forefront of championing sustainability and protecting the built and natural environments. During that time, the impact of natural resource depletion, climate change and rapid urbanisation has become ever more evident.

"Working on this film, we became aware of how important this story is," reveals Nicolas Brown, Director of 'Finding Harmony: A King's Vision'. Remarkably few people around the world know the full depth of The King's lifelong battle to bring nature and humanity into harmony."

THE PATH TO HARMONY - AT ONE WITH NATURE

'Finding Harmony: A King's Vision' offers a foresight of a future filled with hope, leaving audiences feeling uplifted and motivated to bring nature back into everything we do so that we live side-by-side with it, using Harmony to produce inspirational outcomes.

Communities of all shapes and sizes are using Harmony to produce inspirational outcomes and connection is the keyword. Uniting so many different people on the only path forward - together.

"If you're anything like me, you can feel the disconnection that comes with living in our digital age," Kate Winslet reveals. "What Harmony has shown me is that reconnecting with nature isn't so hard to do. And it can begin with a simple step outside. We've witnessed the power of Harmony to heal, to inspire. And even in difficult circumstances, Harmony brings hope. All of us have been gifted this incredible relationship with nature, which means, in the end, any one of us can find Harmony."

Hopefully, 'Harmony' will now spark a new wave of awareness, inspiration, and action, and audiences will be struck by the sense of hope and possibility that Harmony imparts.

"As our planet's life-support system begins to fail and our very survival as a species is brought into question, remember, our children and grandchildren will ask not what our generation said but what it did," says the King.

"Maybe, by the time I shuffle off this mortal coil, there might be a little more awareness of the need to bring things back together again."

‘Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision’ is out now on Prime Video. Available exclusively on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.