This year, the Princess of Wales is the first royal to visit the Chelsea Flower Show where she made a surprise appearance ahead of the King and Queen’s visit later on today with other senior royals. The annual event which has been running for 110 years has a long associated history with the Royal Family.
One of the gardens on display this year is A Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration, designed as a tranquil space, and holds particular relevance to the new King and Queen. It is set to mark the Coronation of King Charles and to commemorate the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The garden which is enclosed on three sides, is intended to instill a sense of calm and reflection about the monarchy. It will feature the favourite plants of the Windsor family, incorporating the individual tastes of both the new King and the late Queen Elizabeth with purple and blue planting reflecting the King’s preferences with light pinks and whites to reflect the tastes of Her late Majesty. The King’s favourites including geraniums, clematis ‘Duchess of Cornwall and lupins as planted in the meadows in front of Highgrove House will be among the highlights along with a bronze statue of the King. Other displays at the show will feature a life-size topiary display of Emma, the late Queen’s pony.
The Chelsea Flower Show, which was established in 1913, will run from Tuesday, 23rd May to Saturday 27th May, showcasing more than 500 exhibitors on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. The show is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society of which the late Queen Elizabeth II was the royal patron from 1952.
Princess Kate made a surprise appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show, wearing a vibrant pink ME+EM silk shirt dress as she joined pupils taking part in the first Children’s Picnic at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. It marked the first time in the history of the 110-year event that a Children’s Picnic has taken place.
The children from the ten schools from the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) campaign for school gardening, were invited to an outdoor lunch ahead of the launch of the RHS’ world-famous horticultural event.
Princess Kate who co-designed the Chelsea Flower Show garden in 2019, to encourage the public to get back in touch with nature, met the schoolchildren as they enjoyed a picnic at the site’s bandstand. The picnic initiative is aimed at helping to bring nature and gardening into the lives of more children. Early childhood development and how it could be enhanced through playing and exploring the great outdoors has been championed by Princess Kate, who feels that more children should be involved in the Chelsea Flower Show.
The centrepiece of the garden was a high platform tree house, which drew inspiration from the nest of a bird or animal, and also featured a campfire, a rustic den, stepping stones, a swing seat, a hollow log and tree stumps for children to play on.
Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent will be visiting the Chelsea Flower Show later today.
Her Royal Highness Princess Catherine is a strong advocate for the proven benefits of the outdoors. Over the past months, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have helped her to gather leaves, hazel sticks, twigs and moss to help decorate the RHS Back to Nature Garden.
