King Charles has helped bring a popular garden ornament back
from the cold after his encouragement led to an informal ban on it
being lifted.
For years, it’s been a polite no to garden gnomes at the
prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show but this
year, they will be back and it’s down to The King.
King Charles has a soft spot for the fun a garden gnome can
bring to the outdoors and so this year, the ornament will have a
special place at the show. Charles III is known to add the odd
garden gnome or two to his own grounds at Highgrove House.
Brightly coloured gnomes, designed by celebrities, will feature
at the Chelsea Flower Show with several taking up residence in the
RHS and King’s Foundation Curious Garden which aims to encourage
children and young people to take an interest in horticulture by
making gardening fun.
As part of that initiative, the gnomes will crop up around the
garden which will be filled with brightly coloured flowers
including the blue of the delphinium, the favourite flower of
King Charles III.
The gnomes will also find themselves sharing space with a brand
new rose, named in honour of Sir David Beckham who is expected to
visit the show.
The garden is also designed to support wildlife with every plant
chosen having a function for pollinators while the trees used in
the space have been selected to showcase biodiversity.
The RHS and King’s Foundation Garden at RHS Chelsea is being
designed by Frances Tophill who has a wide range of experience
including a year tending Monet’s famous garden and a spell at the
Andromeda Botanical Garden in Barbados.
Her work also includes many years in gardens with vulnerable
adults, including adults with learning disabilities and mental
health challenges. She’s being helped by The King with ideas also
coming from Sir David Beckham and top gardener, Alan
Titchmarsh.
The RHS and King’s Foundation Garden also showcases the
organisation that Charles III set up decades ago. The King’s
Foundation aims to transform lives through education and training
and by offering opportunities for thousands of young people every
year to learn skills. Sustainability features heavily in its work
and the garden celebrating it will focus on that, too.
The decision to bring back the gnomes is part of the drive to
make the garden as reflective of the charity’s aims. It’s hoped the
gnomes will underline the fun aspect of gardening to bring more
young people into the outdoors and enjoying horticulture.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show has only ever lifted its ban on
gnomes once before. That was back in 2013 when they were allowed in
to help celebrate the centenary of the show.
Then, as now, they were designed by celebrities. In 2026, the
star creators will include Oscar winning actress Cate Blanchett and
Baroness Floella Benjamin as well as Dame Mary Berry and Sir Brian
May.
The Director General of the RHS, Clare Matterson, said they
”want people to be playful with their gardening, which is why
we’re lifting the gnome ban for these celebrity gnomes, who will
then, by being auctioned off, help us do even more to awaken a
curiosity in gardening in school children and support our national
Campaign for School Gardening. Gardening in schools increases
resilience, builds confidence, encourages curiosity and gives
access to nature – it’s a vital resource that every school should
have access to.”
And while the gnomes will make their main homes in the Curious
Garden, some are expected to crop up elsewhere in the show which
features dozens of gardens and which is held in the grounds of the
Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The Royal Family will be able to see the gnomes up close as they
traditionally attend the preview day of the show, touring its
grounds. King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to lead the
royals at this year’s event.
The gnomes will be on show at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show
between May 19 and May 23.
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