While the Queen Mother toured the Chelsea Flower Show in her signature golf cart, royals including Princess Anne and Prince Edward strolled through the world famous show on foot, making sure to stop off at Prince Charles’ entry.
Inspired by a pair of Turkish rugs from his Highgrove estate, the Prince’s Islamic garden prominently featured roses, which, according to legend, first grew from a bead of perspiration fallen from the brow of the Prophet Muhammad. The garden, tipped to take home the coveted gold medal, adheres to the three tenets of the Turkish design – water, shade and perfume – and features a fountain bowl made of a single piece of white marble and a series of tiles imported from Spain.
“I’m thrilled it’s turned out even better than expected” says Prince Charles. “It has a lovely peaceful feeling about it; the essence is the sound of running water.” Charles designed the garden alongside Michael Miller for Clifton Nurseries, and after the four-day event, the Carpet Garden moves to Highgrove.
An ailing Princess Margaret turned out too, making her first public appearance since suffering a reported third stroke in March. Looking frail, the 70-year-old royal made the rounds in a wheelchair.
The star-studded event drew celebrities including supermodel Elle Macpherson, “It” girl Lady Victoria Hervey, and Oscar nominee Julie Walters. Also touring the gardens during an invitation only day was theatre star Ruthie Henshall, who, having just returned from a Broadway stint in Chicago commented: “It made me realise how much I miss English country gardens.”
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show regularly attracts crowds of 170,000.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
