King says sewing a button and hemming clothes are key life skills

The King’s passion for sustainability has long seen him eschew fashion trends in favour of re-wearing favoured garments such as his late father’s double-breasted camel coat, a herringbone tweed coat he has had since 1986, a grey striped suit featuring a discreet patch and a restored Barbour jacket. Not only does he regularly re-wear items that have formed part of his wardrobe for decades, but through his charity The King’s Foundation, he is educating a new generation of talented artisans and ensuring the precious handcraft skills that underpin the textiles industry are not lost. His Majesty is passionate about the sustainability of materials and taking inspiration from the natural world – something that is central to our work at The King’s Foundation. I have been lucky enough to work as education director for The King’s Foundation for a decade now, based at Dumfries House, a unique estate which – thanks to His Majesty’s great vision – now encompasses an expansive education campus.