It’s an event steeped in royal tradition and patronised by many monarchs through the decades and now, just weeks after his Coronation, Charles III has paid his first visit to the Chelsea Flower Show as King.

His Majesty, accompanied by Queen Camilla, toured the famous show on the evening of May 22nd, hours before the gates were due to open to the public.

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Their Majesties visited many of the gardens in perfect spring weather – after weeks of wet and mild conditions, west London was bathed in warm sunshine for the press day of the annual event.

King Charles and Queen Camilla presented the first ‘Elizabeth Medal of Honour’, a new award in memory of Her Late Majesty who loved the Chelsea Flower Show and who was patron of the Royal Horticultural Society, which runs the event, for seventy years.

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The Elizabeth Medal of Honour recognises those who have made an impact in advancing the science, art or practice of horticulture. The first recipients were Baroness Fookes, Piet Oudolf and Judy Ling Wong.

Other members of the Royal Family also toured the gardens. Another long term supporter, Princess Alexandra, was among the first to arrive, accompanied by her son, James Ogilvy.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester joined them as did Princess Michael of Kent.

Earlier in the day, the Princess of Wales had made a surprise visit to the show to join the first ever ‘Children’s Picnic’ at Chelsea. One hundred children from ten schools involved in the Royal Horticultural Society’s campaign to get more young people involved in gardening and enjoying the natural world had a picnic lunch on the bandstand before taking on activities including a bug hunt.

The Princess joined them and made her own mark by drawing a picture for them.

The Chelsea Flower Show opens to the public on May 23rd and runs until May 27th 2023.