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TRH attend the 84th Chelsea Flower Show

22nd May 2006

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall accompanied The Queen and other members of the family to the Chelsea Flower Show, the 84th held by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Their Royal Highnesses were paying a traditional visit to the show the day before it was due to open.

Other members of the Royal Family attending were The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of York, Princess Alexandra, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, The Princess Royal and The Earl and Countess of Wessex.

In keeping with tradition, they explored the site separately, occasionally crossing each other's paths.

One show garden featured a domestic drainage system which collects rainwater beneath garden paving.

Other displays showed drought-resistant plants and even a solar-powered irrigation system.

Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson appeared at the event to launch a “plant pink” campaign to raise money for Breast Cancer Care.

“I am promoting this for all the people who I know who have lost their women.”

Ballerina Darcey Bussell appeared at the launch of a new crimson-coloured double English rose which was named after her.

She said: “To have anything named after you is major but I suppose to have a David Austin rose is phenomenal. I do feel a bit like a child in a sweetshop, I love gardens.”

Around 157,000 visitors are expected to attend the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show, which opens to the public tomorrow.