DAVID BECKHAM became a fan of Chelsea yesterday — as he joined King Charles in marvelling at a garden they helped design.
Goldenballs, the King and Sir Alan Titchmarsh visited the Curious Garden, which all three had a hand in creating for the annual Chelsea Flower Show.
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Royal party led by King Charles and Camilla with David Beckham close behind on a tour of the gardens Credit: Reuters
King Charles sniffs at the Sir David Rose as a proud Beckham looks on Credit: AFP
They also witnessed the unveiling of the Sir David Rose — a white flower chosen by the former England football ace’s daughter, Harper.
Kate Moss was also in attendance at the show as she also had a rose named in her honour.
The striking lemon-to-cream flower, unveiled on Friday, had been developed over several years by Norfolk-based Peter Beales Roses.
This year, organisers dropped their ban on garden gnomes for only the second time in its history.
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Kate Moss and the rose named in her honour Credit: Oliver Dixon
Beckham bows to the King as Camilla and Alan Titchmarsh enjoy the event Credit: PA
The King’s garden featured four gnomes sitting on a shelf with name tags reading Charles III, Sir David, Alan and Frances — the latter after the garden’s main designer, Frances Tophill.
As she was shown around the garden, Queen Camilla, who was wearing a bee brooch, told Mr Titchmarsh: “This is so nice, it’s so natural.”
Charles leaned forward to sniff the new rose, which has been named in honour of Sir David.
A framed newspaper cutting of the King’s 1995 Christmas card hangs on the wall of the shed in the garden.
British actress Joanna Lumley was also at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London Credit: EPA
As was Queen legend Sir Brian May, who is seen holding his painted gnome Credit: Getty
It shows the King, then Prince of Wales, sitting on a bench in his garden at Highgrove with his two sons, Princes William and Harry, standing inside giant flower pots, with a headline reading: “Clown Prince is a card at Christmas.”
After seeing the foundation’s garden with the RHS, Charles and Camilla split up to view different gardens.
Charles greeted Dame Judi Dench with a kiss on both cheeks and patted her arm as she curtseyed to him and later introduced him to a three-and-a-half-year-old cocker spaniel called Zinc, which he leant down to stroke.
Speaking to her handler Luke Jones, from the company Cape, which trains detection dogs, Charles heard how Zinc had been taught to detect plant diseases on a scheme funded through Defra.
He was told that she was a specialist in sniffing out phytophthora, which has caused crop losses around the world resulting in financial losses for farmers.
Meanwhile, the Queen saw several other displays including the Eden Project’s Bring Me Jattvibeshine garden, designed by Harry Holding and Alex Michaelis.
Later, after viewing a display of his favourite delphinium, the King and Queen, both keen gardeners, reunited.
Becks, who is also a King’s Foundation Ambassador, and Alan Titchmarsh visited Highgrove, in Gloucs, earlier this year to help with the design.
Beaming Zoe Ball with her father Johnny Ball Credit: Getty
The One Show presenters Alex Jones and Roman Kemp with the 20th Anniversary rose Credit: Getty
In a nod to the former England skipper’s shirt number, the garden has seven flower beds and is designed to celebrate and encourage the public’s curiosity in gardening and spending time in nature.
It also boasts a beehive, inspired by the King and Sir David’s enthusiasm for beekeeping and producing natural honey.
Charles was also joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
The annual show in West London attracted an array of celebs including Zoe Ball, who was with dad Johnny, Roman Kemp, Alex Jones and Myleene Klass.
Dame Mary Berry, Joanna Lumley Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg, Cherie Blair, Will Young and Sir Brian May were also spotted at the garden unveiling before today’s opening to the public.
