Senior members of the Royal Family attend the Chelsea Flower Show every year. (Getty Images)
Members of the Royal Family have been attending the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show for as long as we can remember.
From King George V and Queen Mary paying a visit in the 1930s, to a young Princess Elizabeth attending with her parents and later attending herself as monarch over her 70-year reign, it's been a long tradition for royals to attend the garden show at the Royal Chelsea Hospital in London.
Several senior members of the Royal Family attended with the late Queen over the years, and Kate even curated her own garden in 2019.
The Princess of Wales joined pupils from schools taking part in the first Children's Picnic at the 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. (Getty Images)
As for this year, the Princess of Wales took part in the first ever children's picnic, marking the first time in the Chelsea Flower Show's 110-year history that the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Campaign for School Gardening were invited to bring pupils along to the event.
The 41-year-old mother-of-three wore a two-toned pink shirt dress by Me+Em, paired with her go-to summer shoes, a pair of Castañer espadrille wedges.
Later, King Charles III and Queen Camilla returned to the annual garden show on its opening day to inspect Charles's first official sculpture since becoming king.
Sculptor Keziah Burt created the bronze bust for the Royal Tribute Garden, this year called The Garden of Royal Reflection.
Queen Camilla inspects a floral display at the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show. (Getty Images)
It was designed by Dave Green, an RHS gold medal winner, by combining the gardening tastes of both the king and his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, in celebration of the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla, and also in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth, herself a big fan of the Chelsea Flower Show.
Bristol resident, Burt, coincidentally started working on the impressive bust on the day the late Queen died in September 2022. The artist was inspired to start a sculpture of the then Prince Charles following the success of her sculpture of the late Queen for the National Army Museum last year.
The bronze bust and stand, which weighs 15kg and comes in at 23ins tall and 8ins wide, is open to the public to view at the Chelsea Flower Show and will be available for purchase for an estimated £20,000 after the show.
A bust of King Charles III by artist Keziah Burt, featured in the Royal Tribute garden at the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show. (Getty Images)
The king and queen also visited other garden highlights including the Samaritans’ Listening Garden and London Square Community Garden.
As the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show opens for another year, we take a look back at the history of the Royal Family attending the annual garden show over the years.
The Royal Family at Chelsea Flower Show
2023
Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive at the 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. (Getty Images)
2023
The Princess of Wales spoke to pupils after taking part in the first Children's Picnic at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2023. (Getty Images)
2022
The Queen visited The Chelsea Flower Show in 2022 for the first time in a buggy that was quickly dubbed the "Maj-mobile".Getty Images)
2022
Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex taking a tour of The Chelsea Flower Show in 2022. Sophie opted for a linen pink suit for the day out. (Getty Images)
2022
Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi joined her grandmother, along with her aunt and uncle at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2022. Beatrice opted for a £248 floral dress by American brand Reformation. (Getty Images)
2021
Sophie, then Countess of Wessex wore a cut-out white dress at the Queen’s Green Canopy Garden, at the Autumn RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2021 when the show was delayed from its usual spring dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Getty Images)
2019
The then Duchess of Cambridge showing the late Queen her 'Back to Nature Garden', that she designed along with Andree Davies and Adam White, during their visit to the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. (Getty Images)
2019
The Princess of Wales looked ready for the day in a broderie anglaise blouse and khaki trousers as she arrived at her 'Back to Nature' garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019. (Getty Images)
2016
The Princess of Wales wore a vibrant green coat dress as she joined Prince William at the Chelsea Flower Show press day in 2016. (Getty Images)
2013
Prince Harry showing his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, his Sentebale Forget-me-not garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2013. (Getty Images)
2013
Zara Phillips climbed on a tractor in one of the gardens when she attended the Chelsea Flower Show in 2013. (Getty Images)
Queen Camilla smelling a 'Highgrove' rose during a visit to the annual Chelsea Flower Show in 2009. (Getty Images)
2008
The late Queen Elizabeth admiring some roses at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2008. (Getty Images)
2000
The then Earl and Countess of Wessex coordinated his shirt to her handbag and shoes at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2000. (Getty Images)
1996
Prince Philip joined the late Queen Elizabeth (pictured wearing the same hairnet as in 1975) at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1996. (Getty Images)
1988
The late Queen visiting the garden held in the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea at the Royal Chelsea Flower show in 1988. (Getty Images)
1984
Princess Diana wearing a coordinated pink bag, shoes, and tights, as she is shown around the Chelsea Flower Show in 1984. (Getty Images)
1975
Queen Elizabeth on a tour of the Chelsea Flower Show in 1973. (Getty Images)
1960
Queen Elizabeth touring the Chelsea Flower Show in 1960. (Getty Images)
1959
Queen Elizabeth holding a rose presented to her by rose grower Harry Wheatcroft during her tour of the Chelsea Flower Show in 1959. (Getty Images)
1952
A Chelsea pensioner saluting the late Queen as she tours the Chelsea Flower Show in 1952. (Getty Images)
1947
A young Princess Elizabeth attending the Chelsea Flower Show in 1947with her father and mother, King George VI and Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and her sister, Princess Margaret. (Getty Images)
1927
King George V and Queen Mary visiting the annual Chelsea Flower Show c.1927. (Getty Images)
Watch: Queen Elizabeth uses a buggy at Chelsea Flower Show
A couple who quit the UK to retire early in Lanzarote say they are now "living the dream" mortgage-free in the sun. Helen and Stephen Walker decided to take the plunge after a horrid year in which three people close to them died. They quit their property business, sold their three-bed semi in Cosby, Leics., and relocated to Yaiza, a town on the Canary island. Helen, 56, and Stephen, 55, are now financially free and spend their days exploring and relaxing. They say they'd never have been able to retire in the UK at their age - but life is much cheaper in Lanzarote. Helen said: “We’re living the dream. We never got a break at home. “We could never afford to take early retirement in the UK." Helen and Stephen rarely went on holiday as they were self-employed. And, even when they were away, they’d be answering phone calls and messages. But one year Helen convinced Stephen to come away on holiday to Lanzarote 0 and they fell in love with the place. She said: “We came to Lanzarote and loved it so much. “We were walking straight out to sea and he turned around and said 'I could live here'. “I said I could live here as well.” With Brexit in motion, Helen and Stephen then had to act fast if they wanted their dream to become a reality. They became more determined to go for it after losing three friends and family members in one year. Helen said: “We lost three people in that year. We thought 'We need to do it now. “We can’t think about the kids here – we’re going before grandchildren. Otherwise we’d never do it.” They found it hard to leave their children behind but their youngest daughter, Kate Walker, now 22, went to live with their son James Sorrell, 29. Helen said: “We put the house on the market. “In December 2019 we travelled all down the island looking at where we wanted to live. “We found a newbuild in Yaiza and thought ‘this is the place’.” The couple sold their UK home for £225k, and bought the three-bedroom Lanzarote property for £220k. They moved out in January 2020 and purchased the empty property in February – before lockdown hit in March. Helen said: “Luckily we had the kitchen done before lockdown.”. The pair have since spent around €40k renovating their home in Lanzarote – and have no mortgage and low bills. They were shedding out £650-a-month on a mortgage, and £230 for their gas, electric and water bills in the UK. Helen said: “There’s no mortgage and no finance. It’s a lot cheaper here to live. I could never retire in the UK.” The retired couple spend their days going on walks around the island, going for a coffee and lunch together and having chilled evenings in front of the TV. They go out for food or drinks when friends are visiting and around once a week together. Helen said: “Our fitness is fantastic. We do 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. “We travel around the island. We can travel from one end of the island to the other in 45 minutes. “My view is the Timanfaya national park. The language barrier is a problem sometimes but we’re learning Spanish.” Helen has “no regrets” but does miss her kids. She said: “It’s just lovely but I miss my children. Taking my kids to the airport after a visit is the hardest thing. “I cry and cry. But we’re only a four hour flight away.” Helen said Lanzarote has now become a home for the couple. She said: “We’re never bored. There’s always something to do. This is my home.”
Patrick Cantlay's caddie Joe LaCava apologised to Rory McIlroy before Sunday's Ryder Cup singles for his behaviour on Saturday which enraged the European star, according to US media reports.The American had also brushed off media reports that he was protesting against the lack of pay for players at the Ryder Cup by not wearing a cap.
