Throughout her life, Balmoral—the royal family’s countryside estate in Scotland where they traditionally spend late summers—was widely known to be Queen Elizabeth’s most cherished retreat.

For someone who had traveled extensively around the globe, that admiration carried weight. Balmoral, in fact, is where she passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. Her son, King Charles, is now honoring both her and his grandmother, the Queen Mother, in the estate’s gardens.

Last summer, Charles opened the gates of Balmoral to the public, and now his former gardener is revealing the details behind the “secret tribute” the King has crafted for both of these influential women, according to Marie Claire.

The Balmoral gardens have recently undergone a transformation, featuring the addition of a thistle maze, a Celtic-themed maze garden, and a variety of new topiaries, trees, and shrubs. Jack Stooks, who served as a senior gardener at Charles’ Highgrove estate for over two decades, shared why these updates hold “such a personal meaning” for the monarch, Marie Claire reported.

“Mazes are very special to Charles, as he used to love playing in the maze at Sandringham when he was young,” Stooks explained, referencing the royal estate in Norfolk where the family traditionally gathers for Christmas. “His grandmother, the late Queen Mother, used to speak fondly about her memories of him in the maze and how much he loved the topiary.”