22 May 2023 , 13:23
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The Princess of Wales has made a surprise visit to the Chelsea Flower Show where she joined a children's picnic.
Kate, who in 2019 co-designed a Chelsea Flower Show garden to encourage the public to get back in touch with nature, chatted to youngsters picnicking at the site's bandstand.
She wore a vibrant bubblegum pink ME+EM dress that she previously wore in 2021 when meeting a five-year-old cancer survivor at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
The children were from 10 schools from the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) campaign for school gardening, invited to an outdoor lunch ahead of the launch of the RHS’ world-famous horticultural event.
Kate wore a vibrant bubblegum pink dress (PA)
Kate chatted to youngsters picnicking at the site's bandstand. (PA)The picnic initiative aims to help bring gardening and nature into the lives of more children, something that has been championed by Kate.
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She inspired the idea during a conversation with the RHS during 2019 when her garden was on show at Chelsea. The princess felt more children should be involved in the Chelsea Flower Show.
That year, Kate's "Back to Nature Garden" aimed to highlight the benefits the natural world brings to mental and physical well-being.
Kate has championed children spending time outdoors in nature (Jordan Pettitt/AP/REX/Shutterstock)
Kate and the children tour the show grounds (AP)The garden's centrepiece was a high platform tree house, clad in stag horn oak that drew inspiration from a bird or animal nest.
It also featured a swing seat, rustic den and a campfire as well as tree stumps, stepping stones and a hollow log for children to play on.
Later today, King Charles and Queen Camilla will be visiting the Chelsea Flower Show as well the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.
The late Queen was also a fan of visiting the Chelsea Flower Show - and this year is the first since her death.
Kate stops to chat to some Chelsea Pensioners (Getty Images)Unsurprisingly, various royal tributes will be featured at this year's show, including a life-size topiary display of her beloved pony, Emma, in the Great Pavilion.
Elsewhere, there will be a display celebrating the Coronation in Dave Green's RHS A Garden Of Royal Reflection & Celebration, which is designed as a tranquil space featuring some of the Windsor family’s favourite plants.
Kate shows the late Queen and Prince William around the 'Back to Nature Garden' garden in 2019 (AFP/Getty Images)It incorporates a palette of light pinks and whites to reflect the tastes of the late Queen.
Also featured in the garden will be the King’s favourites, including clematis ‘Duchess of Cornwall’, lupins and geraniums, while drifts of camassia, as planted in the meadows in front of Highgrove House, along with a bronze statue of the King, will be among the highlights.
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