King Charles has enlisted former England football captain David Beckham to co-design a garden for this year's Chelsea Flower Show, marking a significant departure from tradition as the event lifts a long-standing ban on garden gnomes. Beckham will decorate a gnome for the display, which will be auctioned for charity.
The ban on garden gnomes, deemed 'tacky' and inconsistent with the show's high-end aspirations, has been in place since 1927. However, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has made a one-off exception this year to raise funds for its school gardening campaign, which aims to involve children in horticulture.
Beckham, known for his fashion sense, reportedly asked for pink paint when given primary colours, and has spent days painting the gnome. He met the King and gardener Alan Titchmarsh at Highgrove last week to discuss plans, including a beehive inspired by their shared interest in beekeeping.
The show will also feature a 'pleasure garden' sponsored by a vibrator company, adding to the whimsical theme. Other celebrities, including Cate Blanchett and Mary Berry, have signed up to decorate gnomes for auction.
