King Charles and Queen Camilla have kept up a royal tradition with a date night that’s been in their diary for years.

However, they had to take other members of the Royal Family with them for this annual evening out which signals summer is truly on it way.

The King and Queen popped into the Chelsea Flower Show, with Charles III’s brother, the Duke of Edinburgh alongside them. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also there.

Their Majesties met several special guests, including some four legged friends as they visited a garden designed by one of the country’s best known horticulturalists, Monty Don, and inspired by dogs. The Dog Garden includes shady trees for pets to lie under, water to wallow in and some special dog friendly lawns. It’s been created by BBC Radio 2 and the organisers of the Chelsea Show, the RHS.

In a sweet nod to the Royal Family’s passion for pets, the names of some of the dogs owned by King Charles and Queen Camilla have been etched into a brick work path in the garden.

The first Flower Show was first held at Royal Hospital, Chelsea in 1912 although a similar event had taken place at smaller venues in west London before that. It quickly became a major spring event in London and marks the unofficial start of the summer. 

King Charles and Queen Camilla were given a sneak preview of the gardens on show ahead of official opening.

They also met up with a familiar face as David Beckham helped welcome them to Chelsea, He was wearing a ”King’s Rose” in his buttonhole. The flower is named for Charles III and some of the money made by the rose breeders will be donated to The King’s Foundation.