Chelsea Flower Show 2023; a look at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s history with the event

The 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show will mark the first time that a ‘very special visitor’ will not explore the gardens and enjoy the displays, after Elizabeth II passed away last September.

The late monarch attended the event nearly every year of her 70-year-reign as well as visiting at the age of 10 after the Royal Horticultural Society sent her tickets when they heard the ‘Princess Elizabeth was starting to plant a little garden of her own at the Royal Lodge.’

Over the years, special gardens have been made to honour Her Majesty with plants from all over the Commonwealth being planted for her Coronation in 1952 and a floral crown made for the Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Elizabeth also chose the Chelsea Flower Show as one of her select number of appearances last year for the Platinum Jubilee, touring the gardens on the Monday of week’s event before the awards were given out in a buggy after suffering from mobility issues for months.

Now, a year on, Helena Pettit, RHS Director of Shows and Gardens said: “Whilst there will be joyful celebration around the King’s Coronation…the absence of our late Queen on the afternoon before we open will be profoundly felt by many. Her annual visit would lift the whole showground.”

To remember Elizabeth’s life and love of flowers, the RHS have featured a garden paying tribute to the 96-year-old with many of her favourite flowers such as the Olivia Austin rose being chosen by award-winning designer Dave Green.

A silver birch will feature in the Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration as well as numerous white and pink flowers in memory of the longest reigning monarch in British history.

Not only will the garden allow people to remember the Queen, but a life-size topiary of Her Majesty’s Fell pony Emma, who was seen standing on the grounds at Windsor Castle on the day of Elizabeth’s funeral, will be on display in the Great Pavilion.

It has been reported that the Queen’s eldest son and now King Charles is set to attend at the time of writing, and he too will be celebrated in the garden with a bust of his head sat amongst his favourite flowers.

Coincidentally, the bust of King Charles had started to be made on the day the Queen passed away by sculptor Keziah Burt. He told the BBC: “It is a privilege to have it featured in the garden.”

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is open to the public from May 22 - May 27, with Royals allowed to inspect the displays on the Monday before.