Bonded with Beckham: King Charles hosts ex-England captain and Alan Titchmarsh to talk horticulture and honey at Highgrove as they plot Chelsea garden
The King bonded with Beckham over gardening and honey at his country estate, Highgrove.
Her Majesty, 77, invited football star Sir David, along with Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Ambassador Alan Titchmarsh and garden designer Frances Tophill, to put the finishing touches on the very special Chelsea Flower Show ‘Curious Garden’, which they hope will celebrate and encourage the public’s curiosity about gardening and spending time in nature.
Both smartly dressed in jackets, folded pocket squares and ties, the two men, who have formed an unlikely friendship in recent years, seemed content to obsess over the designs.
The meeting took place in Gloucestershire last week and the group agreed to install a beehive in the garden, inspired by both the King and Sir David’s enthusiasm for beekeeping and producing natural honey.
Other design elements already announced for the garden include an easel created by Snowdon Furniture School Graduate Eleanor Pickin, who met those interested in garden design at her Highgrove furniture workshops, seven raised beds paying homage to Sir David’s iconic football jersey number, as well as special roses by David Austin Roses for The King, Sir David and Alan Titchmarsh.
Aides said the group was ‘united by a love of gardening and the outdoors and the hope that a new generation of young people will consider careers in horticulture in the future’.
The project is organized by the RHS and The King’s Foundation charity, and the finished garden will be unveiled at the world-famous flower show on the banks of the River Thames in May.
King Charles and David Beckham bonded over passion for the outdoors at Highgrove
The couple were joined by Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Ambassador Alan Titchmarsh and garden designer Frances Tophill.
The group met at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire and agreed to install a beehive in the garden.
King is the Royal Founding President of The King’s Foundation and has had a lifelong passion for gardening, creating his own oasis on his home turf, Highgrove.
Garden trainees and apprentices from both RHS Wisley and Highgrove Gardens have been involved in the Curious Garden project and will help build the garden at Chelsea Royal Infirmary.
As part of a meeting at Highgrove last week, the King heard from budding gardeners about their excitement about the project.
Following the meeting, King’s Foundation Ambassador Sir David, 50, said: ‘Both The King’s Foundation and the RHS do fantastic work protecting and promoting green spaces across the UK.
‘I want to encourage the next generation to appreciate the benefits of nature and take up gardening.
‘It’s been great fun being part of creating the Whimsical Garden and I’m excited for people to see it at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.’
Alan Titchmarsh, who is also the King’s Foundation and RHS Ambassador, added: ‘As a long-time supporter of both the RHS and The King’s Foundation, I am delighted to lend my horticultural expertise to Curious Garden.
Curiosity really is the start of the gardening journey – and it’s certainly how I started my career – I hope this work will inspire a new generation of gardeners to discover their talents through the incredible training and work experience programs offered through the RHS and The King’s Foundation.’
Alan Titchmarsh joined them ahead of the Chelsea Flower Show organized by the RHS. Here they discussed the Peculiar Garden at Highgrove Gardens
Her Majesty meets trainee gardeners and apprentices from Highgrove
Her Majesty met Eleanor Pickin, a King’s Foundation graduate who designed easels for the garden
Sir David Beckham with graduate Eleanor at The King’s Foundation Snowdon Furniture School
Garden interns with David Beckham, Alan Titchmarsh, Frances Tophill and Melissa Simpson Head of Horticulture at Highgrove
Frances Tophill explained that this was her first garden design for Chelsea and that she spent a lot of time at Highgrove drawing inspiration from the property and its creator, the King.
‘It was inspiring to spend time at Highgrove and learn more about Her Majesty’s approach to gardening and how she incorporates the Harmony philosophy into all the work done here; “We carried this to garden designs,” he said.
‘I can’t wait to share the Curious Garden with the world.’
Although born and bred a city boy, Sir David’s new love of gardening and the countryside has earned him an army of unlikely admirers, including the monarch.
Since purchasing the 24-acre Cotswolds estate near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, he has regularly shared his gardening joys via his social media channels.
The King’s Foundation is Her Majesty’s nature and sustainability charity.
The organization offers training programs for young people in traditional, sustainable skills and outdoor learning, as well as programs to manage and develop gardens on behalf of Her Majesty, including those at Highgrove, Dumfries House and the Castle of Mey.
The King bonded with Beckham over gardening and honey at his country estate, Highgrove.
Her Majesty, 77, invited football star Sir David, along with Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Ambassador Alan Titchmarsh and garden designer Frances Tophill, to put the finishing touches on the very special Chelsea Flower Show ‘Curious Garden’, which they hope will celebrate and encourage the public’s curiosity about gardening and spending time in nature.
Both smartly dressed in jackets, folded pocket squares and ties, the two men, who have formed an unlikely friendship in recent years, seemed content to obsess over the designs.
The meeting took place in Gloucestershire last week and the group agreed to install a beehive in the garden, inspired by both the King and Sir David’s enthusiasm for beekeeping and producing natural honey.
Other design elements already announced for the garden include an easel created by Snowdon Furniture School Graduate Eleanor Pickin, who met those interested in garden design at her Highgrove furniture workshops, seven raised beds paying homage to Sir David’s iconic football jersey number, as well as special roses by David Austin Roses for The King, Sir David and Alan Titchmarsh.
Aides said the group was ‘united by a love of gardening and the outdoors and the hope that a new generation of young people will consider careers in horticulture in the future’.
The project is organized by the RHS and The King’s Foundation charity, and the finished garden will be unveiled at the world-famous flower show on the banks of the River Thames in May.
King Charles and David Beckham bonded over passion for the outdoors at Highgrove
The couple were joined by Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Ambassador Alan Titchmarsh and garden designer Frances Tophill.
The group met at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire and agreed to install a beehive in the garden.
King is the Royal Founding President of The King’s Foundation and has had a lifelong passion for gardening, creating his own oasis on his home turf, Highgrove.
Garden trainees and apprentices from both RHS Wisley and Highgrove Gardens have been involved in the Curious Garden project and will help build the garden at Chelsea Royal Infirmary.
As part of a meeting at Highgrove last week, the King heard from budding gardeners about their excitement about the project.
Following the meeting, King’s Foundation Ambassador Sir David, 50, said: ‘Both The King’s Foundation and the RHS do fantastic work protecting and promoting green spaces across the UK.
‘I want to encourage the next generation to appreciate the benefits of nature and take up gardening.
‘It’s been great fun being part of creating the Whimsical Garden and I’m excited for people to see it at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.’
Alan Titchmarsh, who is also the King’s Foundation and RHS Ambassador, added: ‘As a long-time supporter of both the RHS and The King’s Foundation, I am delighted to lend my horticultural expertise to Curious Garden.
Curiosity really is the start of the gardening journey – and it’s certainly how I started my career – I hope this work will inspire a new generation of gardeners to discover their talents through the incredible training and work experience programs offered through the RHS and The King’s Foundation.’
Alan Titchmarsh joined them ahead of the Chelsea Flower Show organized by the RHS. Here they discussed the Peculiar Garden at Highgrove Gardens
Her Majesty meets trainee gardeners and apprentices from Highgrove
Her Majesty met Eleanor Pickin, a King’s Foundation graduate who designed easels for the garden
Sir David Beckham with graduate Eleanor at The King’s Foundation Snowdon Furniture School
Garden interns with David Beckham, Alan Titchmarsh, Frances Tophill and Melissa Simpson Head of Horticulture at Highgrove
Frances Tophill explained that this was her first garden design for Chelsea and that she spent a lot of time at Highgrove drawing inspiration from the property and its creator, the King.
‘It was inspiring to spend time at Highgrove and learn more about Her Majesty’s approach to horticulture and how she incorporates the Harmony philosophy into all the work done here; “We carried this to garden designs,” he said.
‘I can’t wait to share the Curious Garden with the world.’
Although born and bred a city boy, Sir David’s new love of gardening and the countryside has earned him an army of unlikely admirers, including the monarch.
Since purchasing the 24-acre Cotswolds estate near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, he has regularly shared his gardening joys via his social media channels.
The King’s Foundation is Her Majesty’s nature and sustainability charity.
The organization offers training programs for young people in traditional, sustainable skills and outdoor learning, as well as programs to manage and develop gardens on behalf of Her Majesty, including those at Highgrove, Dumfries House and the Castle of Mey.
