It's not every day that the King of England meets Queen rock royalty, but it was the case at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show press event yesterday.
For over a century, the festival has been the crown jewel of the British summer social calendar. Since first opening its gates at London's Royal Hospital grounds in 1913, it has evolved into one of the most revered celebrations of all things horticultural. With the celebration comes the collision of worlds – from the British royal family to footballers and Sex and the City stars.
The clientele at Chelsea's press day is truly as eclectic as the gardens it showcases – our unmissable spots are listed below.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla
As the Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society, King Charles III's presence at Chelsea was historic but not surprising.
Far from being a passive spectator, he was hands-on throughout the showcase, with his charity, The King’s Foundation, co-curating the 'Curious Garden' to inspire a new generation of growers.
After inspecting rare varieties of his favorite flower (the delphinium), the King tested the scent of the newly debuted 'Sir David Beckham' rose alongside Beckham himself, using the global prestige of Chelsea to remind the world of the profound joy of living in nature.
David Beckham
David Beckham attended the festival as an ambassador for the aforementioned King’s Foundation.
The former footballer teamed up with King Charles, celebrated British gardener Alan Titchmarsh, and designer Frances Tophill to champion 'The Curious Garden', a space that features seven raised plant beds in homage to his iconic number 7 jersey.
As mentioned, the event also marked an emotional milestone for the star with the launch of the 'Sir David Beckham' rose by David Austin Roses. The rose variety in question is a white-bloomed one inspired by a touching 50th-birthday request from his daughter, Harper. Unfortunately, it's currently only available in the UK via David Austin, but you can still shop for more beautiful roses from the same brand in the US. My favorite is the Queen of Sweden, available at Walmart.
Kim Cattrall
Sex and the City actress Kim Cattrall and her husband, Russell Thomas, married at Chelsea Old Town Hall last year, but they returned to the West London neighborhood to visit 'The Boodles Garden' designed by Catherine MacDonald.
Judi Dench
Dame Judi is a frequent attendee of Chelsea, and 2026 was no exception. A lover of trees and wild landscapes, she spent time exploring the Campaign to Protect Rural England garden and spent time with King Charles.
Judi stood alongside the Monarch to admire the space's centerpiece, an 11-meter figure of 'Mother Nature' carved from a fallen giant Sequoia tree. Both reportedly agreed the artwork was completely 'extraordinary'.
'My ultimate celebrity sighting at Chelsea this year was the incomparable Judi Dench,' comments our Head of Gardens, Rachel Bull, who was in attendance.
'I have admired her work for as long as I can remember, and standing a few feet away from her as we both admired the King's Foundation Curious Garden was an unforgettable moment.'
Monty Don
As one might expect, Monty Don was in attendance at Chelsea to lead the BBC's Gardeners' World evening coverage.
The broadcaster anchored the nightly slots on BBC Two alongside co-host Rachel de Thame, keeping viewers updated on medal announcements and emerging garden trends.
Brian May
You might not expect Chelsea to attract rock royalty, but Brian May suggests otherwise.
The Queen guitarist joined a lineup of celebrities participating in the temporary lifting of Chelsea's 'gnome ban' to raise money for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. He decorated a custom garden gnome, naturally complete with a guitar, that's currently on display inside the King's Foundation Curious Garden.
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
Joining the main royal contingent, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh were spotted touring the exhibits, prompting speculation that she was hunting for new additions to her own garden.
Those who keep up with the family may know it has been a busy horticultural season for Sophie, who recently collaborated with Landform Consultants to design a display for the upcoming Royal Windsor Flower Show.
Mary Berry
Another frequent Chelsea attendee, Dame Mary Berry, was seen exploring the exhibits, as she has over the last decade.
Alongside reviewing the gardens for the upcoming 'People's Choice Award', the Great British Bake Off icon also lent her artistic skills to the event by painting a custom garden gnome to raise money for the RHS school gardening campaign.
Shop Homes & Gardens' Planting Edit
You can be an ocean away from Chelsea but still feel inspired by its beauty. I love these classic English garden picks to channel its quintessential style in even the smallest of yards.
A refined and generously blooming rose, this variety produces wide, shallow-cupped flowers in a soft apricot-pink hue, each layered with more than 100 delicate petals. Its blooms carry a subtle yet elegant myrrh fragrance, adding a graceful sensory depth to their timeless beauty.
I never knew gardening gloves could feel so beautiful. This pair is made with extra-long cuffs for added coverage, helping to guard against light scratches, insect bites, and sun exposure. The pattern is just so quaint, and almost too good looking to get muddy.
Artfully designed by none other than Drew Barrymore, this footed ceramic planter combines delicate floral detailing with practical functionality. Featuring an elegant wildflower motif and raised ceramic feet to improve airflow and drainage.
These pretty lightweight gloves are ideal for weeding, pruning, planting, picking, landscaping, and other DIY projects. Designed for comfort and flexibility, they’re equally suited to light-duty work (so you don't need green thumbs to invest).
Pink roses convey ultimate romance, and this evocative bush is the perfect place to start. Flowering generously from spring through summer, it brings bold color and effortless charm right through the peak of the season.
Few artists are as associated with floral motifs as William Morris. The Morris Co. Cotswold Collection is therefore a natural starting point for bringing such prints into the garden. This pot is the perfect base for a rose tree, but it's so versatile that it'll look good with any plant you choose.
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