PRINCE Charles has created a giant Union-flag-shaped vegetable patch in the garden of his £45 million Scottish estate, aerial photographs revealed.
Dumfries House, near Cumnock in Ayrshire, was acquired by the Duke of Rothesay in 2007 and a long renovation project ensued. It is not the prince’s main Scottish residence, which is Birkhall, Aberdeenshire.
Images published by The Mail on Sunday showed the vegetable garden on the 2000-acre estate has been planted to appear like the Union flag from above.
The same shape can also be seen in Dumfries House's Queen Elizabeth Walled Garden on Google maps's satellite view.
READ MORE: UK Government spent more than £160k on Union flags in just two years
It comes as the royal family are reportedly on a “charm offensive” to stop Scottish independence. Following the May election, at which a pro-independence majority was voted in, it was said that the Queen and Earl and Countess of Strathearn (William and Kate) would play a key role.
During a trip to Scotland in May, the royal couple held secretive talks with former prime minister and pro-Union campaigner Gordon Brown. Channel 4 captured footage of Brown entering the Palace of Holyroodhouse for their meeting, but was asked not to show the images due to privacy concerns.
The Earl of Strathearn was "listening to community views on the issue of independence", according to a Kensington Palace spokesperson.
Ahead of the 2014 independence referendum, the Queen told Scots to “think carefully about the future” which staying at Balmoral. The comment was seen to have influenced the final result, which was 55% No and 45% Yes.
A former Downing Street insider said earlier this year that there had been conversations about how the senior royals could be used to help boost support for the Union.
READ MORE: Prince Andrew scandal may finally destroy the Windsors
"If you look at polling, especially on the Queen, it's a very positive thing for the Union," the source continued. "That's been discussed a few times.”
Spokespeople for the Queen have insisted that the monarch remains neutral on political matters.
Her website states: “By convention, The Queen does not vote or stand for election, however Her Majesty does have important ceremonial and formal roles in relation to the Government of the UK.”
The SNP have previously said they back keeping the Queen as head of state following independence, but the Scottish Greens believe keeping the “outdated” system would “hold back” the country.
Alex Salmond’s Alba Party will debate ending the monarchy in an independent Scotland at their upcoming conference.
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