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King attends first RHS flower show on royal estate

Mariam Issimdarand
Connor Bennett,Sandringham
News imagePA Media King Charles and Queen Camilla with garden designer Catherine MacDonald are in a garden. Green-leaved trees form the dense backdrop with yellow and purple flowers in the foreground. A pale lemon-coloured hydrangea can be seen too. The Queen is wearing a green-patterned midi dress, MacDonald is wearing a yellow midi dress with a flower print and King Charles is wearing a beige linen suit and is carrying a brown walking stick. PA Media
King Charles is patron of the Royal Horticultural Society

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were greeted by crowds after arriving for the opening day of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) flower show on the Sandringham Estate.

The five-day event is being held for the first time at the monarch's private estate in Norfolk.

King Charles, who became patron of the RHS in 2024, and the Queen presented awards including to a display called The Queen Bee made from upcycled containers – with tin can bees.

Camilla presented Her Majesty the Queen's Special Award for Upcycled Container Gardens to the bee-themed exhibit, which was designed and created by Ingoldisthorpe Church of England Primary School, close to Sandringham.

News imagePA Media A bee made out of an old tin and recycled materials sits in a planting box filled with brightly coloured flowers.PA Media
The Queen Bee garden was designed by Ingoldisthorpe Church of England Primary School

After handing a framed certificate to two adult representatives from the school, Camilla said that the Queen Bee was "absolutely charming", adding: "A lot of hard work went into that."

King Charles and Camilla also visited the RHS Royal Legacy Garden, designed by Catherine MacDonald in collaboration with the King, and the King said it was "fantastic".

News imageReuters Young man with dark hair and blond streaks shakes King Charles' hand as other members of the public look on. Reuters
Crowds lined up to shake the King's hand during the opening day of the show

Among the many people visiting the estate for the first time was Agnes Watson from Suffolk, who shook the King's hand.

When asked how soft they were, she said, "soft, probably softer than mine. I'm not sure how much gardening he does."

News imageConnor Bennett/BBC Agnes Watson with dark blonde hair is talking to a reporter who is off camera. Crowds of people are behind her, with one member of the public holding up their phone to take a picture. Connor Bennett/BBC
Agnes Watson, who has been to many RHS flower shows, said she liked the space at Sandringham compared to other RHS shows

Ollie was at the show with his daughter, Millie, and said it was the first time she had seen a member of the Royal Family in person.

He said: "It's fantastic and we're looking forward to a nice day out."

Millie, who snapped a photo of the couple in their carriage, said their outfits "looked posh".

News imageReuters King Charles points to a toilet and sink which have been planted with flowers.Reuters
The King seemed rather tickled by this floral convenience spot

The RHS flower show has replaced the annual Sandringham Flower Show, after the estate agreed the RHS could host a horticultural show once every three years at the site.

The Sandringham Flower Show, which dates back to 1881, is run by a trust made up of a committee of volunteers and will return in 2027 and 2028.

The RHS event was accused of being less "affordable" than the estate's previous one-day flower show, but organisers said prices were competitive.

The annual show cost £19 in 2025, with the 2026 event ranging up to £42 for a day ticket.

News imagePA Media King Charles and Queen Camilla sitting in a carriage. The King is wearing a beige suit and holds a wooden walking stick. The Queen wears a green and white paisley print dress and is waving to the crowds.PA Media
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived by carriage for their visit to the RHS Sandringham Flower Show

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