King and Queen arrive at first RHS Sandringham flower show

King and Queen arrive at first RHS Sandringham flower show

King Charles III and Queen Camilla attended the opening day of the first RHS Sandringham Flower Show on Wednesday. Arriving via a horse-drawn Victoria Carriage from Sandringham House, the couple passed through the Old Norwich Gates to the cheers of crowds gathered behind rope fences.

The event represents a shift in the traditional horticultural calendar for the Norfolk estate. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), of which the King is patron, is hosting this festival in place of the annual Sandringham Flower Show. While the traditional show, which dates back to 1881 and is managed by a trust of volunteers, will return in 2027 and 2028, the RHS will host its own show at the site once every three years. This first iteration runs from July 22 to 26, with the next planned for 2029.

Following a performance of the national anthem by a string quartet, the royal couple was escorted by RHS director general Clare Matterson and President Keith Weed. They visited the RHS Royal Legacy Garden, a project the King described as fantastic. The garden was designed by Catherine MacDonald in collaboration with the King, utilizing local Norfolk materials to champion biodiversity and rural skills.

During the visit, the royal couple presented several awards. The King presented The Kings Biodiversity Award to Sophie Goldber for the Mindful Chef’s Gathering, an exhibit inspired by a traditional orchard. He also awarded a wooden plaque and glass trophy for The Best Exhibit in the Floral Marquee Award to Colin and Esta Jones of Roaleyn Fuchsias, a family-run business from the Conwy Valley of north Wales.

Queen Camilla presented the Queen’s Choice of Upcycled Containers Award to the Whissonsett & District Horticultural Society and Gardening Club. She also gave Her Majesty The Queen’s Special Award for Upcycled Container Gardens to Ingoldisthorpe Church of England Primary School for an exhibit titled The Queen Bee. The display featured tin can bees and a planter symbolising leadership. The Queen called the work absolutely charming and such fun, noting that a lot of hard work went into that.

The visit featured extensive walkabouts where the couple interacted with thousands of members of the public. The King, wearing a summer beige suit and brogues, engaged with a man who noted he was the same age as the monarch. When the man added, You are looking good!, Charles responded with a laugh, It gets much harder doesn’t it? Another visitor told the King he looked like his mother.

The King also spoke with students from Weeting Primary School in Brandon. After learning they grew herbs and tomatoes but had not eaten them, he asked: Have you tried spinach? It’s the best thing in the world. He further joked about the poor exhausted teachers as the children prepare for their holidays.

Queen Camilla, wearing a green and white patterned Lexy London dress, encountered a girl from Brighton who had been a member of the Pony Club at Plumpton, Sussex. This prompted the Queen to reveal, So was I! The Queen was also presented with a bag of citronella-based insect repellents from The Oil Hut and was seen smiling while examining a large purple knitted radish.

The five-day extravaganza celebrates Norfolk's landscapes through gardens, exhibits, and floristry displays. The program includes a fruit and vegetable competition, as well as talks and demonstrations from horticulture experts. This engagement is one of the final duties for the couple before they depart for Scotland for the summer, with only one official engagement remaining.