Royals and dogs shine at Chelsea Flower Show

The Chelsea Flower present opened its gates to royalty and celebrities on Monday, with canine, unusually, taking the highlight.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla had been among the many first to tour the gardens on show, being joined by well-known figures like soccer icon David Beckham and actress Cate Blanchett.

This 12 months’s occasion favours rewilding and sustainability, with mossy paving, native planting and gravel paths.

Designers leaned into pure landscapes formed by local weather change and a rising need to reconnect with nature.

However it was not simply the planting that obtained individuals speaking. The RHS and BBC Radio 2 Canine Backyard, created by Monty Don, gave four-legged guests uncommon prime billing.

Created with canine consolation in thoughts, it options dog-friendly lawns, water for wallowing and shade-providing timber. Names of royal and broadcaster-owned canine are etched into brick paths – together with the late Beth, the Queen’s Jack Russell, her new pet Moley and the King’s canine Snuff.

Don, not normally a fan of present gardens, stated the prospect to have a good time the dog-owner bond had gained him over.

The backyard is not going to be judged and won’t keep. After Chelsea, it’ll discover a everlasting residence at Battersea Canine & Cats House.

Together with Beckham and Blanchett, Dame Joanna Lumley and actor David Tennant had been amongst these getting a preview of the world-famous occasion, together with BBC presenter Zoe Ball.