King Charles and Queen Camilla made their annual visit to the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday, where the monarch greeted Sir David Beckham and admired a new rose named in the footballer's honour. The royal couple explored the world-renowned horticultural event at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, with crowds gathering to catch a glimpse.
A key stop was the King’s Foundation Curious Garden, an exhibit designed to inspire public interest in gardening. Inside a whimsical wooden hut adorned with gnomes and artwork, the King collaborated with Sir David and TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh. The trio viewed an arrangement of roses, including a variety named after the King, one for Mr Titchmarsh, and a newly launched English shrub rose dedicated to Sir David. The footballer, wearing the white bloom in his buttonhole, celebrated its debut; the rose was a special commission from his daughter Harper for his 50th birthday.
King Charles also greeted Dame Judi Dench with a kiss on both cheeks outside the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s garden. They admired a large artwork of Gaia, the Mother Nature figure, carved from a fallen Sequoia tree. The King described it as “extraordinary,” and Dame Judi noted it was hollow inside, allowing visitors to enter its head. They also discussed theatre, including a production of The Tempest starring Sir Kenneth Branagh.
Later, the King playfully greeted a cocker spaniel called Zinc at the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s “scents and sensors” exhibit. The dog demonstrated its ability to quickly locate a toy it had been trained to smell, showcasing its advanced sense of smell for identifying plant diseases. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also toured the show separately.
This year’s event features show gardens with items ranging from a Barbara Hepworth sculpture to Japanese bonsai trees. Earlier in the day, Titchmarsh, Queen guitarist Sir Brian May, comedian Bill Bailey, and presenter Dame Floella Benjamin were among those showing off gnomes they painted for a charity auction. It marks only the second time the Royal Horticultural Society has lifted its gnome ban in the show’s 133-year history.
