King Charles and Queen Camilla made an entrance by horse-drawn carriage at the inaugural RHS Sandringham Flower Show today, marking the first time the Royal Horticultural Society has staged one of its own events at a royal residence.
The pair travelled from Sandringham House along a track through the Old Norwich Gates before stepping down from the carriage at the show site in Norfolk.
During their walkabouts, Charles stopped to speak with a group of schoolchildren, asking whether they grew vegetables at school. A teacher explained they cultivated tomatoes and herbs, though the pupils admitted they hadn’t yet tasted their produce.
The King offered some dietary advice: “Have you tried spinach? It’s the best thing in the world,” before wishing them “a very nice holiday.”
During their walkabouts, Charles stopped to speak with a group of schoolchildren, asking whether they grew vegetables at school
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Their Majesties chatted with members of the public, including one man who told Charles: “I’m the same age as you.” The King responded with characteristic humour: “It gets much worse, doesn’t it?”
Charles presented the Best Exhibit in the Floral Marquee Award, a wooden plaque and glass trophy, to Colin and Esta Jones, who run Roaleyn Fuchsias from Trefriw in the Conwy Valley of north Wales.
The King also toured the RHS Royal Legacy Garden, a creation by garden designer Catherine MacDonald developed in partnership with Charles himself. He pronounced the finished result “fantastic.”
The garden was among several displays the couple explored during their visit, which combined formal award ceremonies with more relaxed walkabouts through the show grounds.
Charles, dressed in a light suit and carrying a walking stick, was joined by Camilla, who wore a green and white patterned dress, as a string quartet performed the national anthem
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The gardening charity has secured an agreement with the Sandringham Estate to host a horticultural show at the site once every three years, with the traditional volunteer-run Sandringham Flower Show, dating back to 1881, returning in the intervening years.
Charles, dressed in a light suit and carrying a walking stick, was joined by Camilla, who wore a green and white patterned dress, as a string quartet performed the national anthem.
Well-wishers gathered behind rope barriers and greeted them with applause before the couple were guided through a series of show gardens.
The five-day event runs from July 22 to 26.
King Charles and Queen Camilla made an entrance by horse-drawn carriage at the inaugural RHS Sandringham Flower Show today
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GETTY
Camilla bestowed Her Majesty The Queen’s Special Award for Upcycled Container Gardens upon a bee-themed display called The Queen Bee, crafted by pupils at Ingoldisthorpe Church of England Primary School, situated near the Sandringham Estate.
The inventive exhibit featured bees fashioned from tin cans and other repurposed containers.
After handing a framed certificate to two adult representatives from the school, the Queen described the creation as “absolutely charming,” adding: “A lot of hard work went into that.”
The award recognises gardens built from recycled and repurposed materials, and the local primary school’s entry stood out for its creativity and environmental message.
It was one of several prizes distributed during the royal visit, with both Charles and Camilla taking on presenting duties throughout the afternoon.
After spending considerable time meeting visitors, the couple climbed back into their carriage, drawn by two white horses, and departed towards Sandringham House.
The next RHS edition at the estate is scheduled for 2029.
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