It’s one of the highlights of the spring and for over 150 years, it’s attracted royalty in large numbers. As the RHS Chelsea Flower Show gets under way in London, The King and Queen have already paid a visit. And they join a long list of regal visitors who have helped turn a celebration of flowers into one of the most famous events in the world.
The glorious display of gardens, flowers and plants at the Royal Chelsea Hospital has seen continued support and patronage of The Royal Family, with kings and queens enjoying its delights from its very beginning.
(Photo by Lydia Starbuck)
The RHS began holding a celebration of flowers in London in 1862 but then it was called the Great Spring Show and the organisation was still the Horticultural Society. However, one of its biggest fans was Queen Victoria. The show became a regular event and she became a regular visitor. She was obviously impressed as, in 1888, she handed over a royal charter. Since then, the show has been run by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
This was a significant honour, and it significantly elevated the status of the show and the Society in the eyes of the public. As a tribute to Queen Victoria, the Royal Horticultural Society created the Victoria Medal of Honour in 1897, which is still awarded today to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to horticulture. Among those recognised is Victoria’s great, great, great grandson, King Charles III, who was given the honour in 2009 while still heir to the throne. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, presented it to him. On his accession, he soon took on the patronage of the RHS.
(Photo by Lydia Starbuck)
The show that King Charles visits today is in a different spot from the one his three times great granny used to go to. In Victoria’s day, Kensington was the setting. The move to Chelsea, and the grounds of the Royal Hospital, came in 1913, during the reign of King George V.
King George’s mother, Queen Alexandra, had developed even more of a fascination for the show that Victoria and the papers of the day loved her attendance at what was now an important annual event. Alexandra had always been a hugely popular member of the Royal Family and even in her later years, she attracted big crowds wherever she went. She became the first patron in 1913, ensuring an even bigger interest in the displays.
When she died, it was George’s wife, Queen Mary, who took up the patronage and who kept up Royal Family attendance at the Flower Show. She was far more down to earth than Alexandra, who had had a fairytale quality about her, but Mary had a shrewd eye for PR and knew how to bring attention to the causes she supported. One year saw her arrive at Chelsea with her daughter in matching outfits, thrilling the magazine writers who then produced copious copy on the show.
( Royal Family/ Instagram still/ fair use)
Mary remained patron until her death in 1953, the year she had exhibited her legendary practicality by insisting that no one even contemplate moving the forthcoming Coronation of her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, in the event of her death. Mary did pass away before Elizabeth was crowned and the ceremony went ahead as planned. But Elizabeth, deeply fond of her grandmother, also ensured that this floral passion of Mary’s retained its royal backing and went on to be the patron of RHS herself.
Queen Elizabeth II would become the longest reigning monarch in British history, with a spell of 70 years spent on the throne. And in that time, she rarely missed the Chelsea Flower Show. Elizabeth II first attended as a young princess, alongside her mother, and one of her last public appearances was at the show in 2022 when she toured its many gardens and displays in an electric buggy.
(Photo by Lydia Starbuck)
Throughout her reign, she gave her support to a wide range of organisations and patronages who displayed at Chelsea and also saw several members of her own family exhibit there.
In 2024, King Charles and Queen Camilla return to Chelsea to offer their support to the world famous flower show. Her Majesty will come face to face with creations of her beloved pet dogs, Bluebell and Beth, while The King has chosen Chelsea for one of his first public facing engagements since being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.
Their Majesties’ appearance at the show will continue a long tradition of royal support.
