As patron of the Royal Horticultural Society and a familiar face at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, Her Majesty The Queen has continued to champion this year’s virtual event. SeeTake a look around the Queen’s private garden at the Sandringham Estate An Instagram post released to The Royal Family (opens in new tab) account showed two images of lily of the valley growing in the Buckingham Palace gardens, as well as two images of the Queen holding the flowers – as part of her Coronation bouquet, and when she received a bunch from a member of the public. The accompanying caption reads: ‘On the first day of the virtual Chelsea Flower Show, members of the Royal Family are taking part in the #MyChelseaGarden campaign, sharing a selection of their favourite plants and flowers at this time of year. ‘As this year’s show coincides with #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, @the_rhs are encouraging people to brighten their social media feeds with images of plants and gardens, to provide a moment of respite in these challenging times. Lily of the valley, with its dark green leaves and bell-shaped fragrant white flowers, featured in the Queen’s coronation bouquet and has held special associations for her ever since. Other family members have also shared their most-beloved blooms, with The Prince of Wales choosing delphiniums. Known for his love of gardening, The Prince of Wales said of his chosen flower: ‘For me, the magnificent, gloriously apparelled delphinium, with its impeccable bearing and massed in platoons, holds pride of place in my botanical affections.’ The Duchess of Cornwall has opted for Alchemilla Mollis. ‘This acid green fluffy-flowered plant is one of the best ever foliage plants for the garden and the vase,’ says The Duchess of Cornwall. ‘A must for every gardener…’ The Princess Royal has selected hellebores, while The Earl and Countess of Wessex chose azaleas. You can join the #MyChelseaGardeninitiative by sharing your images online.
