I'm a royal expert and here's four things you need to know about the Royal Parks

While London is known for its hustle and bustle, busy with city workers, tourists and students, the capital is home to eight beloved Royal Parks, providing beautiful green spaces to escape the crowds and high-rise buildings. Covering over 5,000 acres of historic parkland and free to access, the parks are a lifeline to communities and enable nature and wildlife to thrive.

Each of the Royal Parks, which includes world-famous green spaces such as Hyde Park, St James's Park, Kensington Gardens and Greenwich Park, has a unique place in British history and is cared for by The Royal Parks Charity. But that wasn't always the case, as Park Manager Mark Wasilewski tells me, just days before four of the park's hosts the annual Royal Parks Half Marathon.

The horticulturist, who joined the Royal Parks in 1989, explains that the lands were historically used by the monarchy for recreation, namely hunting.

That's why the parks are located so close to royal palaces, with Buckingham Palace next to St James's Park, Kensington Palace in Kensington Gardens and Hampton Court Palace bordering Bushy Park.

Mr Wasilewski said: "They all started off as royal hunting parks...they are all Crown land, it's all royal land. But it was decided by the Royal Family that the public should be able to enjoy them. And so the Government was asked to look after these royal lands on behalf of the Royal Family."

Does that mean the Firm could reclaim the land? Mr Wasilewski, who fittingly has St James's Park as his background while chatting to me over video call, doesn't think so.

"I don't think that would ever happen," he said. "The Royal Family are delighted that we are managing the parks to a very high standard, so the public can come and enjoy and appreciate these very, very important spaces to London."

Indeed, many royals have been known to take private strolls through the parks and undertake official duties there.

The King, who has been patron of the Royal Parks since it was launched as a charity in 2017, has visited the parks several times.

He's sown one of the meadows in Green Park, visited the allotments in St James's Park and visited the stables in Hyde Park.

During the pandemic, he and his wife, the Queen, returned to Hyde Park to meet and thank the Royal Parks' grounds staff, apprentices and volunteers for maintaining the parks and keeping them open throughout the pandemic, providing a green space lifeline for Londoners.

When the Prince and Princess of Wales lived at Kensington Palace, Kate was spotted walking her youngest son, Prince Louis, in a stroller at Kensington Gardens for a trip to feed the ducks, and Princess Anne also popped into St James's Park cafe for a coffee.

Discussing the famous visitors, Mr Wasilewski said: "The Royal Parks are used and are frequented and are visited by members of the Royal Family in different ways, and it's delightful they do and they take a great interest and take a great interest in it."

By the 1800s, all eight of the Royal Parks had become open to the public, and in the Victorian age, they became an important public space for major events.

Historically, the government has been responsible for overseeing the parks. In 1993, the Royal Parks agency was established as a branch of DCMS, until the Royal Parks Charity was formed in 2017, which manages the parks on behalf of the Government.

It receives a grant from the Government, but the bulk of funds is raised through catering, filming and events.

One of the ways it generates revenue is by hosting the Royal Parks Half Marathon every autumn, which sees thousands of runners race past some of London's most iconic landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Royal Albert Hall.

This year, the Royal Parks Half Marathon has raised over £6 million on JustGiving - a £1.3 million increase compared to this time last year.

First held in 2008, runners also make their way through four of London's beautiful royal parks - Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James's Park and Kensington Gardens.

This year it's taking place on Sunday, October 12, starting and finishing at Hyde Park.

The route takes runners past Horse Guards Parade with views of the London Eye, Kensington Palace, and the highlight of the race includes running along The Mall, not once, but twice.

Commenting on the iconic tree-lined royal road leading from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace, Mr Wasilewski said: "When you reach the Mall, you'll run what we call the processional route. It's a red carpet leading up to the front of Buckingham Palace.

"It's where we see all the wonderful processions of state, royal weddings, coronations and royal funerals."

This year the race will be officially opened by Scottish radio presenter Jenni Falconer, but Mr Wasilewski said he would love for a member of the Royal Family to do the honours.

With the 20th anniversary of the Royal Parks Half Marathon taking place in 2028, it's a perfect opportunity for their patron to get involved. And as for a royal running the race?

The horticulturist says: "We ought to invite one of them to start the Royal Parks Half Marathon and show them what it's like. That might be the start of it and see if they can run in future years. I think it's worth asking the question, don't you?"

So there you have it four new facts about the Royal Parks: they used to be royal hunting grounds, members of the Firm visit the parks, they're run by the Royal Parks charity and the Royal Parks Half Marathon takes place in four of the parks every year!