THE KING AND QUEEN HAVE A BLOOMING WONDERFUL DAY OUT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

'His Majesty was interested in one of the plants we've got because at Highgrove, something's being eate eaten by rabbits

- EMILY NASH

They are both passionate gardeners and have been known to compete over their home-grown produce, so the King and Queen were in their element touring the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show for the first time in his new reign.

Their Majesties were joined at the Royal Hospital venue in London by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra to take in some of the 17 show gardens and the more than 70 plant nurseries in the Great Pavilion.

Also with the Queen, who was chic in a blue floral print silk dress by Fiona Clare, were her sister Annabel Elliot and her daughter and son-in-law Laura and Harry Lopes, together with Annabel’s fellow Queen’s Companions, the Marchioness of Lans downe and Baroness von Westenholz, a former model whom Her Majesty calls “Lofty”.

The royal party split to take in different exhibits, with the Queen unable to resist trying out a swing seat in the London Square Community Garden, designed by James Smith to encourage people to relax and share food together in nature. Her Majesty had a gentle swing after admiring the floral display and the vast communal table set with chess and draughtboards, along with dining chairs upcycled by Jay Blades from the BBC show The Repair Shop.

“This is just right to take the weight off your feet. I can’t resist,” she said.