King Charles Reflects on Environmental Backlash in New Documentary
King Charles has spoken candidly about the criticism he faced for decades of environmental campaigning, reflecting that he was determined not to be diverted from his course despite sustained public backlash.
The monarch’s remarks appear in a new 90-minute film, Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision, which Amazon MGM Studios will release next week. The documentary explores Charles’s lifelong commitment to green issues and his Harmony philosophy connecting humanity with nature.
In the film, Charles watches footage of his past speeches on environmental matters. “I just felt this was the approach that I was going to stick to. A course I set and I wasn’t going to be diverted from,” he says.
The documentary, produced in close collaboration with The King’s Foundation, marks the first movie premiere to be held at a royal residence and the first time Charles has participated in a documentary with a streaming platform.
Kate Winslet provides voiceover narration for the film. According to the actress, Charles’s comment about “talking to plants” had “haunted him” due to the press response it generated.
As Prince of Wales, Charles faced accusations of overstepping his constitutional role through his advocacy on organic farming, criticisms of modern architecture and his well-documented conversations with plants. The documentary revisits these key moments of controversy.
However, the film also highlights how public attitudes have shifted. An unnamed academic appearing in the documentary states that the world is not on the right “trajectory” to limit the worst effects of climate change. Charles responds with characteristic resignation: “It’s rapidly going backwards, I’ve said that for the last 40 years, but anyway, there we are…”
The King adds: “I can only do what I can do, which is not very much – anyway.”
In a more reflective moment, Charles speaks about his mortality and legacy. “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,” he says.
The documentary includes personal scenes filmed at the King’s Highgrove estate, including footage of him collecting eggs at “Cluckingham Palace,” his chicken coop. Charles also reveals his preference for the “red Duke of Yorks” potato variety when making crispy baked potatoes.
The film emphasises the spiritual dimension of Charles’s beliefs about the connection between humanity and nature, whilst offering lighter personal insights into his daily life.
Notably, the documentary references how attitudes towards spending time in nature have evolved. The Prince and Princess of Wales now actively promote the benefits of time outdoors, an approach that aligns with views Charles championed for decades.
The production represents a less traditional approach for a serving monarch, enabling the King to reach a wider global audience despite the constraints on his public speaking as head of state. The tone suggests a deliberate attempt at legacy-building, allowing Charles to present his own narrative without heavy questioning or critical interviews.
