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Kate, Charles and Camilla visit Chelsea Flower Show for first time without late Queen

Senior members of the Royal Family attend the Chelsea Flower Show every year. (Getty Images)
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.

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales joins pupils from schools taking part in the first Children's Picnic on the press day ahead of the 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 22, 2023. Ten schools from the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) Campaign for School Gardening wereinvited to bring pupils along to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, marking the first time in the event's 110-year history that a Children's Picnic has taken place. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JORDAN PETTITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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.

Britain's Queen Camilla smells a floral display at the Chelsea Flower Show, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on May 22, 2023 in London, England. The Chelsea Flower Show, also known as the Great Spring Show, is held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. (Photo by Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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 featured in the RHS Royal Tribute garden during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show press day, at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London. Picture date: Monday May 22, 2023. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images)
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

Britain's King Charles III (R) and Britain's Queen Camilla (L) arrive with President of Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Keith Weed, for a visit to the 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 22, 2023. The Chelsea flower show is held annually in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. (Photo by TOBY MELVILLE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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)
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

Queen visits The Chelsea Flower Show 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 at The Chelsea Flower Show 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 of York and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the 2022 RHS Chelsea Flower Show

2021

Sophie, 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)
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

Duchess of Cambridge showing the Queen and Prince William her RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden in 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

Duchess of Cambridge at the Chelsea Flower Show 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

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Chelsea Flower Show 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

 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Harry Chelsea Flower Show 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)
Zara Phillips climbed on a tractor in one of the gardens when she attended the Chelsea Flower Show in 2013. (Getty Images)

Read more: The truth about 'royal protocol' and why it’s a load of nonsense

2009

Queen Camilla smells a 'Highgrove' rose during a visit to the annual Chelsea Flower Show in 2009. (Getty Images)
Queen Camilla smelling a 'Highgrove' rose during a visit to the annual Chelsea Flower Show in 2009. (Getty Images)

2008

The Queen admires some roses at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2008. (Getty Images)
The late Queen Elizabeth admiring some roses at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2008. (Getty Images)

2000

The Earl and Countess of Wessex Chelsea Flower Show in 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

 The Queen And Prince Philip Chelsea Flower Show 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 Queen visiting the garden held in the grounds of Royal Hospital Chelsea at the Royal Chelsea Flower show in 1988. (Getty Images)
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 Chelsea Flower Show 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

The Queen on a tour of the Chelsea Flower Show in 1973. (Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth on a tour of the Chelsea Flower Show in 1973. (Getty Images)

1960

The Queen Chelsea Flower Show 1960
Queen Elizabeth touring the Chelsea Flower Show in 1960. (Getty Images)

1959

Queen Elizabeth Chelsea Flower Show 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

Queen Elizabeth Chelsea Flower Show 1952
A Chelsea pensioner saluting the late Queen as she tours the Chelsea Flower Show in 1952. (Getty Images)

1947

King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at the chelsea flower show
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  Chelsea Flower Show
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