King Charles brought the curious to one of the most famous flower shows in the world as he helped design a garden for a cause close to his heart.
As the RHS Chelsea Flower Show got under way in London, The King saw his vision for a garden for one of his charities come to life.
The finished garden, for The King’s Foundation, was on display as Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the show on the evening before it opens to the public.
Along with football legend, and gardening convert, Sir David Beckham, The King has created a garden for the Foundation. They chose the theme of ‘curious’ as they said they want everyone to be curious about nature and gardening.
The garden they have created is designed to celebrate the impact that plants have on people and places, as well as the planet. It’s been built in the middle of the Chelsea Flower Show which is held every year in the grounds of the Royal Chelsea Hospital. After the show, which will bring hundreds of thousands to see its gardens and exhibits, the new design will be carefully replanted at a college for young people to enjoy.
The King also came face to face with a garden favourite that he helped bring back to Chelsea. For years, the garden gnome has been a no-no at the prestigious show but, on royal orders, this year it has returned.
King Charles, as well as a host of celebrities, decorated miniature gnomes which were placed around the gardens at the show. HM’s gnome looked suitably regal, painted in royal blue and wearing what looked rather like a crown around the bottom of his distinctive pointed hat. And while Charles III might be one of the most recognisable people in the world, the gnomes all have rather similar faces and so, like every other entrant, the royal gnome held a plaque that had the name of its famous creator on it.
The royal gnome was on show next to one decorated in bright red by Sir David Beckham, whose most famous footballing years were for England and Manchester United who both have kits in that colour. The co-designers of The King’s Foundation Curious Garden, Frances Tophill and Alan Titchmarsh, chose pale blue and orange respectively for their gnomes.for the Foundation. It
Gnomes were first banned from Chelsea almost 100 years ago. In 1927, they were forbidden from gardens at the show when the rules stated that ”no statuary or other sundries may be exhibited in the tents, either alone, or as a part of an exhibit.” Charles III, long known for his passion for gardening, is fond of a gnome in his Highgrove pastures and insisted that the bar be lifted, if only briefly.
Earlier in the day, one of The King’s relations, Lady Amelia Windsor, had helped launch the show. She toured the Boodles Garden, designed by Catherine MacDonald of Landform Consultants as the preview of this year’s event got under way.
There was a big royal turnout on the evening of preview day with King Charles and Queen Camilla joined by the Princess Royal and the Duchess of Edinburgh as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
And there’s no gardening break for The King. Later this summer, he’s hosting the first ever RHS show at Sandringham where he will also design a garden. The Legay Garden will be created in association with Catherine MacDonald.
RHS Sandringham will be held in the grounds of the estate on July 22 and 23 2026.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show runs until May 23 2026.
