The Queen has deployed gardeners to trim her Buckingham Palace trees after she was told the dangerous and diseased trees could fall on guests at her garden parties.
The 93-year-old monarch – currently self-isolating at Windsor Castle over the coronavirus threat – is set to have up to 90 trees chopped down or pruned in the grounds.
Experts warned the Queen that her Poplar trees are becoming unsafe due to age and could fall on guests during garden parties on the extensive palace lawns, while several of her London Planes are suffering from fungal disease called Massaria.
Picture of weather damage to the Queen’s trees at Buckingham Palace gardens, where Massaria fungal disease is weakening London Plane trees over a hundred years old
A map of the Queen’s extensive Buckingham palace lawns, where the 90 trees to be trimmed or felled are highlighted in red
The Queen (pictured in Buckingham Palace gardens) has employed gardeners to trim Buckingham Palace trees after she was told the dangerous and diseased trees could fall
Here a London Plane tree can be seen to have Massaria fungal disease, which can make them prone to dropping branches and causes large lesions on the upper surfaces of major branches
Weather damage which has pulled down branches on a London plane tree in the palace gardens
The Royal Garden Parties are held three times a year at Buckingham Palace and once at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh during the summer months.
For the Royals, the parties are an opportunity for the royal family to meet and greet a cross-section of British society and thank them for various good deeds they have done.
A fungal infection, called Massaria, on a London plane at Buckingham Palace gardens
Documents detailed how several Poplar trees could be dangerous as they have reached their ‘safe life expectancy’.
The species used to thrive in Britain but are now rare with only several thousand being found across the country in woodlands.
Mature trees can grow up to 30 metres and can live for 200 years, the bark is dark brown but often appears black, and is thick with numerous fissures.
Meanwhile, several of the monarch’s London Plane trees which is the capital’s most common tree are diseased.
Tree boffins noted that the plane trees were suffering from Massaria disease, which causes large fungal lesions on major branches and can cause them to fall.
Some of the London Planes in Buckingham Palace’s gardens were planted by the Queen’s great, great grandparents Queen Victoria and Prince Albert II, around 180 years ago – they can live several hundred years.
Plane trees, which can grow up to 40 meters high were ‘discovered’ in the mid-17th century by John Tradescant the younger in his famous nursery garden and ark in Vauxhall, South London.
Sir David Attenborough joins Queen Elizabeth II in the gardens of Buckingham Palace ‘The Queen’s Green Planet’ TV show, April 2018
Queen Elizabeth II (left) and Princess Margaret leaning against a large tree ‘The Queen’s Green Planet’ TV show, April 2018
Agents acting on behalf of The Royal Family, said: ‘London Plane trees within the area have been regularly climbed and inspected for Massaria.
‘The inspections have been carried out twice a year, pre and post erection of tents for the summer garden parties held within the gardens.
‘There is a continuing presence of Massaria within all of the trees.
‘The Poplar trees within the area are generally of poor condition in relation to both the biomechanical and physiological functioning.
‘All trees have been subject to historic storm damage and continue to be vulnerable in high winds.
‘There is an increasing pressure on the trees given their size, condition and situation.
Queen Elizabeth II greets guests during a garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 23, 2017 in London, England
The Prince of Wales during a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London. Wednesday May 15, 2019
Two magnificent plane trees planted by the Queen’s great, great grandparents Queen Victoria and Prince Albert II straddle a path in the garden at Buckingham Palace
‘They are situated in an area of the garden where general events are conducted, such that these areas cannot be re-situated.
‘The reduction of risk will involve further reduction to the trees which will result in large pruning wounds leading to further decay in the future.
‘They would be better removed to allow planting of younger and possibly more suitable species of tree.’
Eighty four other species including various Oaks and Laburnums will be cut back due to damage during storms and general decay in locations spread around the lake in the 40 acre site.
The emphasis on the Royal’s Garden Parties is on rewarding the unsung heroes and heroines of British society rather than greeting the usual crowd of toffs and diplomats who regularly hob-nob with the Establishment.
Two large tea tents are typically erected in the gardens with 8,000 people invited to each party.
In order to ensure a cross-section of people attend quotas are reserved for public organisations such as the Civil Service, the Armed Forces, as well as charities and societies.
During The Queen’s reign, more than 1.1 million people have attended garden parties.
An aerial view of Buckingham Palace in south west London, where the felling and trimming will take place
Queen Elizabeth II holds a branch of a tree in the gardens of Buckingham Palace during ‘The Queen’s Green Planet’ TV show – April 2018
A royal source said: ‘It’s important to ensure that the garden is kept in top condition for events especially the Royal Garden Parties.
‘These works will ensure that everyone including senior royals are kept safe during events like this.’
Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.