Royal recognition for care home residents’ artwork

Residents at a care home in Melksham received a royal surprise after they were sent a personal letter from His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla thanking them for their floral watercolour paintings. 

Blenheim House, part of Berkley Care Group, had written to the King earlier this year to share their artwork, inspired by His Majesty’s love of gardening and nature. The paintings were created as part of a special art project celebrating the vibrant gardens at the home, which residents have enjoyed tending and admiring throughout the summer.

Residents spent an afternoon in the gardens selecting flowers to recreate in watercolour, guided by local artist Caroline Butler, who taught techniques for blending colour and adding decorative details with jewels and glitter.

To the residents’ delight, a letter soon arrived from Buckingham Palace, thanking them for their artwork and expressing how touched Their Majesties were to hear how much they had enjoyed their gardens. The reply, accompanied by a floral coronation card, was shared across the home and brought smiles to residents, families and team members alike.

Events Manager at Blenheim House, Chris Preston, said, “Our residents were so proud to send their paintings to His Majesty, and to receive a reply from the King and Queen was truly special. The letter meant so much to everyone, it gave our residents a real sense of pride and connection.   

“Art is such an important part of life here; it lifts spirits, encourages creativity, and brings people together. To have that recognised in this way was wonderful.”