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Prince Charles is advertising for a new head gardener at his sprawling country estate in north east Scotland.

The successful applicant will serve the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay's "private" garden at the royal household at Birkhall in rural Deeside.

Set in 22 acres of woodland, the estate includes formal gardens, lawns and an arboretum.

Birkhall was inherited by Charles from the Queen Mother after her death in 2002 and he also spent his second honeymoon there in 2005 with the Duchess of Cornwall.

In 2011 the heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, celebrated New Year's Eve at the estate.

The advert, on www.hijobs.net, says the royals are now on the hunt for someone “with exceptional skills and experience to maintain and develop the estate and garden”.

The ad continues: “If you are passionate about horticulture and organic practices, then we would be keen to hear from you.”

The Prince is a keen horticulturalist himself and has created organic exhibition gardens at his Highgrove, Birkhall and Clarence House homes.