I was honoured to be invited to Windsor Estate for a two-day gathering of more than 300 Crown Estate farmers.

As a tenant farmer on crown land, the event was a rare and privileged opportunity to explore the estate, meet the team, and shake hands with His Majesty King Charles III.

The day began with a warm welcome from Paul Sedgwick, deputy ranger of Windsor Great Park.

I opted first for a tour of the vineyard, where a representative from Laithwaite’s guided us through several hectares of vines producing a sparkling wine.

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About the author

Mark Stubbs

Mark Stubbs manages his 700ha family arable farm in Lincolnshire, in partnership with his parents. The farm grows wheat, malting barley, oilseed rape, linseed and cover crops. Mark won the highest yielding winter wheat crop in the 2024 YEN awards.

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We explored the park by coach, stopping at the Copper Horse statue of King George III, which marks the start of the Long Walk to Windsor Castle.

Paul explained the estate’s growing income from film productions, including the latest Avengers film, now being shot on site.

The final tour took us to Prince Consort Farm, home to organic Jersey cows. The dairy, housed in a Grade II listed building envisioned by Prince Albert, maintains a constant temperature year-round.

These cows are milked twice daily, and we were told the King himself drinks their raw milk.

The evening reception was a delightful affair of fine food and wine, with a cheeky red kite that swooped down and stole my bread roll.

The second day focused on the future of the Crown Estate. Talks highlighted plans to invest in and strengthen landlord-tenant relationships.

A standout moment was hearing from Minette Batters. She spoke passionately about her upcoming paper for Defra, aimed at improving farm profitability.

The afternoon brought another exclusive tour—this time to the royal creamery, a private facility normally reserved for the royal family and their guests.

Like the dairy, it was designed to maintain a stable temperature and was the idea of Queen Victoria.

The pinnacle of the visit was an invitation to Windsor Castle for drinks and canapés with the King. I was honoured to shake his hand and engage in a brief conversation.

He asked about my estate—Louth—and showed genuine interest in our farming challenges and hopes for the harvest.

And just like that, it was over. Two days of connection, insight, and royal recognition—an experience I’ll never forget.