As King Charles and Queen Camilla visit the Chelsea Flower Show is he the royals’ keenest gardener to date?

It only seems fitting that King Charles 111, who  has been dubbed the ‘Gardener King,’ paid a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show 2023. As he and Queen Camilla were taken round the Chelsea Flower Show by Keith Weed, the President of the Royal Horticultural Society, Queen Camilla was dressed for the occasion in a floral dress by Fiona Clare.

As well as visiting amongst other gardens, The Boodles ‘Best of British’ Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to visit A Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration. According to the BBC, the “circular garden designed by Dave Green is enclosed by hedging to create a space for contemplation about the monarchy, and is overseen by a bronze bust of the King. A topiary in the Great Pavilion depicts Emma, the late Queen’s fell pony, which made a poignant appearance during her coffin’s procession at her funeral.”

The late Queen Elizabeth 11 used to visit the show annually and due to her mobility issues last year, was driven in a buggy to take a look at the exhibits and gardens. 

Earlier in the day, the Princess of Wales visited  the Chelsea Flower Show 2023, she had last been to the event back in 2019. As if the day wasn’t eventful enough, gardener Manoj Malde married his partner Clive Gilmor in the garden he designed. 

Gardens Illustrated recently wrote about King Charles 111's love for gardens. Landscape architect Jinny Blom and garden designer wrote that King Charles describes the farm and gardens (at his private home of Highgrove) as his “... one very small attempt to heal the appalling short-sighted damage done to the soil, the landscape and our own souls” by our our contemporary way of life. This one statement is the mark of the man. He cares deeply for all the things that we now realise matter as much as life itself, and he has done so for a very long time.”