It's a Royal family affair! Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Chelsea Flower Show for the first time as they step through a floral arch to mark the Queen's 90th birthday
- William and Kate have never been before which a spokesman said was down to 'diary issues'
- Kate wore an emerald-green coat dress by Catherine Walker with nude heels
- The couple walked through a floral arch designed to mark the Queen's 90th birthday
- Prince Harry has previously been involved with the show when a garden was designed for his charity Sentebale
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their first visit to the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show this evening, walking through a stunning floral arch to mark the Queen's 90th birthday.
Although the Royal Horticultural Society event is one of the highlights of the royal summer calendar, William, 33, and Kate, 34, have never found the time to attend before.
The couple were accompanied by Prince Harry, 31, who has been involved in the show before when a garden designed for his charity, Sentebale, won both a Silver Gilt medal and the People's Choice award last year.
The Duchess of Cambridge attends the Chelsea Flower Show for the first time and wore an emerald-green coat dress by Catherine Walker for the occasion
William and Kate see the Princess Charlotte Chrysanthemum, an eye-catching baby pink bloom with green tips, which has been named after their daughter, with Prince Harry
Kate wore an emerald-green Venetian wool coat dress with a hoop shirt by Catherine Walker, paired with nude heels and a pale-pink boxy clutch bag and smiled at William, in a dark suit and purple tie, as they entered the show.
A Kensington Palace spokesman said the couple's previous non-attendance had largely been down to 'diary issues' but added: 'This year the diary has worked out fine and especially in the Queen's 90th year, Their Royal Highnesses were keen to join her.'
Their first stop was the National Chrysanthemum Society where William and Kate spoke to Alison and John Peace who were displaying the new pink and green Rossano Charlotte, named after their daughter.
It is being sold for the first two years through Waitrose with half the profits going towards EACH - East Anglian Children's Hospice - of which Kate is patron.
William asked where they were available and joked: 'You could always steal one off the exhibit!'
Kate told him: 'Waitrose are selling them!'
Clearly in a jovial mood on the couple's first visit to the show, William asked Alison and John Peace from the Chrysanthemum Society: 'Can you spell Chrysanthemum? I can't even say it.'
The Duchess asked: 'Do you have a favourite? You don't have to be biased.'
Pointing at the Rossano Charlotte in the centre of the display, Harry joked: 'What about the one that's in the middle.'
The young royals stopped off at Peter Beale Roses, where they walked through an exquisitely-scented bower of blooms, and then onto an intriguing garden named Antithesis of Sarcophagi, which consisted of a granite box with a hidden woodland inside.
Kate looked at an intriguing garden named Antithesis of Sarcophagi, which consisted of a granite box with a hidden woodland inside
The 44 tonne granite cube contains a woodland that is only visible through narrow slits placed at different heights in the side
Kate wore her signature nude court shoes to elongate her legs with the structured dress, left, and looked deep in conversation, right
Prince William exits his car in a dark-navy suit with a purple patterned tie after arriving at the floral celebration
Kate leans in to give a kiss on the cheek while greeting a guest at the event
Prince Harry wore a navy suit with black brogues to visit the show and see the blooms on display
Kate and William chatted to guests at the flower show with the Duchess wearing her hair in tousled waves
Kate coordinated her bright dress with pale-peach accessories and wore L.K.Bennett nude court shoes
Prince William and the Duchess have previously not managed to attend the show due to 'diary issues' according to a royal spokesperson and looked delighted at the occasion
The Duchess enthusiastically smiles as she's told about a rose display at the flower show
Kate asks questions while Harry peers over at the roses behind the Duchess
Prince Harry is also eager to brush up on his horticultural knowledge and asks about the plants
A right Royal rose garden: Prince Harry and the Duchess look at the vibrant fuchsia roses on display
Kate leans in to have a whiff of a flower while Prince Harry shows a keen interest in the blooms
The 44 tonne granite cube contains a woodland that is only visible through narrow slits placed at different heights in the side.
The three stood gazing in before chatting to designers Martin Cook and Gary Breeze, who carved the lettering on the memorial to Princess Diana at Althorp.
Gary said: 'They loved it (the garden). William asked if I had carved the memorial at Althorp. He was well aware of that.'
The Duke made light of his lack of horticultural knowledge, asking the couple: 'Without being too technical, because I probably won't understand what you are saying, did you cross pollinate to create it?'
Responding to an incredulous look from his brother, William joked: 'Alan Titchmarsh taught me a thing or two!'
'Thank you, it means so much to them,' said Kate, in an emerald green Catherine Walker dress and LK Bennett nude heels.
'Do they grow well outside?'
'Well done, it's beautiful,' said Kate as they left.
'Yes it's lovely, thank you so much,' added William.
Later the Queen even stopped off for a little peek at the flower named after her adored great-granddaughter.
Kate shares a joke with William and can't contain her laughter, left, as she grins by a romantic display, right
A floral display caught William and Kate's eye as they gazed up at the beautiful arrangements
Kate and William were all smiles as they walked through the flower show with William looking at the blooms behind the Duchess
Kate's bright coat dress is cinched in at the waist with a wide matching belt, left, and she wore the style zipped up to her neck, right
Kate's emerald-hued dress was contrasted by yellow daffodils as her and William were shown the impressive displays
The Duchess and Prince William walk around the prestigious gardening show features hundreds of stands and exhibition gardens
Kate gives a warm smile to Chelsea Pensioner Rich Graham when the young royals toured the Chelsea Barracks Garden
Kate leans down to touch the carpet of poppies as William looks moved by the display
Kate points out the detailing in the poppy installation at the show with William picking one up for closer inspection
Kate previously wore the coat dress in 2014 on a royal tour of Australia and New Zealand, left, and looked stunning in a vibrant green coat dress and was in high spirits for her first visit to the flower show today, right
At the nearby 5000 Poppies project - a stunning sea of 300,000 knitted flowers from Australia laid out in front of the Royal Hospital - the trio looked deeply moved.
Kate knelt down alongside one of the designers Lynn Berry, for whom this has been a three-year labour of love, for a closer look, telling her: 'I love the fluffy ones.'
Lynn told her: 'They're made of felt.'
Fellow designer Margaret Knight said she had 'jelly legs' after the royal visit, adding: 'Everyone is gobsmacked (by the garden), it's stunning. This sort of thing is very close to their hearts, they were very intrigued by it.
'William asked Kate, 'could you make one of these darling?'
Kate said as she laid her own knitted poppy: 'Well done, I'm so impressed with this.'
Next the young royals toured the Chelsea Barracks Garden before stopping to chat to Chelsea Pensioner Rich Graham outside the M&G Garden.
William joked: 'Thank you for having us at your bash. We will keep the noise down.'
They also stopped to inspect the Support the Husqvarna Garden, which was shipped from Melbourne, Australia, for the show.
Thrilled designers Charlie Albone and Mick Conway described the experience as 'unreal'.
Mick said: 'They seemed very interested in the garden. William in particular, he said, 'This for me is gold by far.' He also asked what this plant was (pointing to a Buxus) and Kate said to him, 'darling, we've got that '.'
As they toured the gardens William and Kate bumped into a a few family members - Princess Alexandra and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent - and kissed them warmly before stopping off at the exhibit created by celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin, which contained revolving trees and bushes.
'It's a funky look,' remarked William.
The Queen, in a pale-blue tailored coat with a matching pastel, floral dress, was escorted by her husband, Prince Philip, to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, and also viewed the 21 foot floral arch marking her 90th birthday - containing 10,000 pastel blooms - before being greeted by the President of the Royal Horticultural Society, Sir Nicholas Bacon.
The Queen arrived at Chelsea Flower Show in a pale-blue coat and a floral dress in a matching pastel blue
The Queen will view the 21 foot floral arch marking her 90th birthday - containing 10,000 pastel blooms - and was presented with a floral poesy
The Queen wore a delicate floral brooch as well as her patterned dress to keep in with the theme of the day
The Queen looks delighted to be surrounded by beautiful flowers and holds up a bouquet of lilies
The Queen was clearly impressed by the 'Behind Every Great Florist' design, which pays tribute to the monarch's image
Her Majesty gamely poses in front of her own image, with her profile created from the inventive floral design
Her Majesty was pictured through the gap in the design which is filled with three lots of brightly-coloured hues
The Queen seemed fascinated by the craftsmanship and design of the display, which used the famous silhouette of Her Majesty used on postage stamps
The couple are set to tour the gardens and see displays including '5,000 poppies', an Australian community tribute of remembrance for those who have served their country in wars and conflicts.
While William, Kate and Harry aren't the only young royals attending tonight – Princess Beatrice, in London again despite holding down a full-time job in New York, was present with her sister, Princess Eugenie.
Beatrice, 27, wore a full midi-skirt in steel grey with a structured leather-detailed top while Eugenie, 26, wore a white short-sleeved shift dress with embroidered detailing paired with chunky-heeled nude and metallic sandals.
They were accompanying their father, Prince Andrew, seen in public for the first time since the Daily Mail's recent investigation into his alleged business dealings in Kazakhstan and the controversial sale of his former home to a Kazakh tycoon.
Also present was the Countess of Wessex, who matched the blooms in a bright floral-print dress by Alexander McQueen, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Princess Anne and Princess Alexandra.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3604998/Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-visit-Chelsea-Flower-time.html#ixzz49VYjgiBe
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Princess Eugenie wore a short-sleeved white shift dress with delicate embroidery of blooms around the hem
Princess Beatrice arrived in a steel-grey full skirt with a structured leather detail top and maroon strap-detailed shoes
Princess Eugenie and Beatrice arrive for the celebrations with both choosing full-skirted outfits striking heels for the occasion
Prince Andrew, left, walked ahead of his daughter's and was deep in conversation
Princess Beatrice enters into the spirit with a bouquet full of blooms
Princess Anne wore a camel cape and oatmeal midi skirt, wore with deep crimson lipstick
Sophie, Countess of Wessex wore a floral design Alexander McQueen dress in pink and scarlet shades
A new bloom for a new royal! The Princess Charlotte Chrysanthemum was shown to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge today and is displayed at the Chelsea Flower Show
Finally the Royal party will attend a private reception at the newly named Queen Elizabeth II Pavilion.
Kate wore her striking Catherine Walker dress first back in 2014 during a royal tour of New Zealand and Australia.
Back in Australia's capital, the Duchess wore the vivid green tailored look when helping to plant an English oak tree at the National Arboretum.
She previously wore the British label for her arrival in Wellington, New Zealand.
Established in 1913, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has become one of the world's greatest showcases for horticultural excellence, attracting visitors and exhibitors from across the globe.
Since its beginning, the show has gone from strength to strength: it has grown from 244 exhibitors in 1913 to over 500 today, including gardens, nurseries, floristry, educational displays and trade stands.
Today the show attracts 165,000 visitors.
The Queen's landmark birthday is a key theme this year – including a three metre high, two and a half tonne tribute in the shape of the Queen's head featuring 10,000 colourful flowers.
The tiered tribute includes roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, arum lilies, hyacinths, freesias, gerberas, gladioli, clematis and sweet peas and marks the debut show of New Covent Garden Flower Market.
Its designer Ming Veevers Carter said: 'I've been coming to New Covent Garden Flower Market for many years and know first-hand how integral the market and its traders are to London's florists.'
The tribute, which took a team of 35 people six months to create, has a prominent site at the show in the Great Pavilion just off Main Avenue.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3604998/Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-visit-Chelsea-Flower-time.html#ixzz49VYjgiBe
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
