Television gardener Alan Titchmarsh has had numerous encounters with members of the royal family, but insists one was more challenging than the others
Samantha Masters Content Editor
06:00, 25 Mar 2026
The Princess Royal shared some reassuring words, according to Alan (Image: PA)
Alan Titchmarsh has said a “tricky” interview with a member of the royal family, resulted in Princess Anne offering some reassuring words. The 76-year-old television presenter is well-acquainted with the royal family, particularly King Charles, with whom he shares a passion for gardening.
Having been photographed alongside the King on numerous occasions, Alan has frequently praised his dedication, especially regarding environmental causes. Yet, the gardening expert admits that such easy rapport hasn’t always translated to other members of the monarchy.
When asked about his most challenging interview to date, the ITV personality disclosed it was with Prince Philip, prior to his death in 2021. “I did the interview for his 90th birthday. He was tricky,” he told Woman Magazine.
“I wrote and thanked him afterwards, and he wrote back saying, ‘Thank you. As you probably realised, being interviewed is not my favourite occupation’.
Alan Titchmarsh said Prince Philip was ‘tricky’ to interview
“The moment the interview finished at Windsor Castle, he said, ‘That it? Come on’. Alan added: “I followed him, and he took me round without the camera and showed me what he’d done after the fire. It was completely different on a one-to-one.”
Following the encounter, Alan revealed that Philip’s sister-in-law, Princess Anne, provided some context. He added: “Afterwards the Princess Royal said to me, ‘It’s not you. He won’t tell us about his war’.
“He’s never wanted to put himself in front of [others who had served].” This isn’t the first occasion Alan has found himself underwhelmed during a royal encounter.
When he received his Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2000, he admitted feeling “slightly disappointed” by their brief conversation.
During an appearance at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in 2014, as reported by the Daily Express, he recalled: “When I got up to the Queen she asked me ‘Are you busy?’ I was slightly disappointed by the generality of the question, but I told her about Gardeners’ World and Ground Force, which I was working on then.
(Image: Getty Images)
“She chatted and then the hand came out for the handshake. We had been told when that happens you stop talking and go away.” Yet what followed took Alan by surprise.
He continued: “As I shook her hand she said, ‘Well, you give a lot of ladies a lot of pleasure’.”
Looking back on the discussion he had with his long-term wife Alison following the ceremony, he recalled: “I said to my wife ‘You know I’d rather be buried than cremated.’ She said ‘What brought that on?’
“I told her that I wanted a headstone which said ‘Alan Titchmarsh MBE 1949-whenever. He gave a lot of ladies a lot of pleasure – Elizabeth R’.”