Jane Percy, Duchess of Northumberland

"I began work on the garden over 23 years ago and it’s been a fulltime job ever since,” the duchess tells me."

"My favourite book is Elements of Murder by John Emsley, a professor of criminology. I was delighted when I found out he was coming to the Alnwick Garden to give a lecture."

"My dream bouquet would have to consist of Jude the Obscure roses and David Austin roses – they have a wonderful apricot smell"

"What word best describes Alnwick Garden? Extraordinary, because there is nothing ordinary about it. It is unlike anything else you’ll see in the world"

"We had many funny evenings with her and him, he would come up for the carriage driving at Alnwick and he was always just game for anything and we had many laughs"

"I remember very well and particularly with hindsight of the prince's huge accomplishments and yet seeing how great he was with everyone he met and how interested he was in people, and also the occasional, funny off-the-cuff remarks, which will remain with me for a long time."