RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 Set to Go Ahead
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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 Set to Go Ahead

In light of the news, we look back at the Chelsea Flower Show's history and highlights

For the first time since World War II, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show was this year cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Whilst a series of virtual garden tours, floristry displays and digital events took place instead, next year will see the annual spring spectacle come back to life. 

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The Royal Horticultural Society has announced its plans for next year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which will make a long-awaited return to the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Ensuring a safe experience for all, the 2021 show will run for an extended period of six days (18 – 23 May) in order to reduce the number of visitors on each day, whilst other Covid safety measures include socially distanced queuing, masks in indoor areas, and track and trace check-in, with further adjustments made to the show’s restaurant and eating areas.

RHS director general, Sue Biggs stated:

“We plan our Shows 18 months in advance and have been planning and researching how to open the 2021 RHS Chelsea safely and securely for our visitors, partners and exhibitors since April this year.  We have taken the time to get all our plans finalised and will now be consulting with exhibitors and supporting them further due to the changes we have had to make.”

Tickets for RHS Members will be on sale from 26 October. Public available to purchase tickets from 30 October. Visit rhs.org.uk for more information. 

In light of the good news, we’re looking back at some of the Chelsea Flower Show’s history and past highlights; a reminder of all the beauty that London possesses and that good things are yet to come.

The Chelsea Flower Show: A Look Back Over the Years

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Chelsea Flower Show

Queen Mary with group at the 1913 show.

Courtesy of RHS Lindley Collections

Chelsea Flower Show

Queen Mary and King George V at the 1920 show.

Courtesy of RHS Lindley Collections

Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea Flower Show poster (1927). Designed by Charles Shepherd ‘SHEP’ of Baynard Press.

Courtesy of The Baynard Press / Charles Shepherd / RHS Lindley Collections

Chelsea Flower Show

Preparing a model garden for the 1931 show.

Courtesy of RHS Lindley Collections

Chelsea Flower Show

Visitors walking over a bridge in a Japanese garden at the show in 1936.

Courtesy of RHS Lindley Collections

Chelsea Flower Show

Calceolaria ‘Dobbies Perfection’ in 1948.

Courtesy of RHS Lindley Collections

Chelsea Flower Show

Queen Elizabeth II at the 1961 show.

Courtesy of Valerie Finnis / RHS Lindley Collections

Chelsea Flower Show 2017

London Gate entrance to the 2017 show, designed by Simon Lycett.

Courtesy of RHS/Georgi Mabee

Chelsea Flower Show 2017

The Duchess of Cambridge at the 2017 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Courtesy of RHS/Hannah McKay

Chelsea Flower Show 2018

The Supershoes, Laced With Hope Garden, a partnership with Frosts. Designed by: Laura Anstiss for the 2018 flower show.

Courtesy of RHS

Chelsea Flower Show 2018

LG Eco-City Garden. Designed by: Hay-Joung Hwang for the 2018 show.

Courtesy of RHS/Neil Hepworth

Chelsea Flower Show 2018

Chef Jasmine Hemsley, wears Dolce & Gabbana’s new Snap Pea dress in The Seedlip Garden in2018.

Courtesy of RHS/Suzanne Plunkett

Chelsea Flower Show 2018

Designer, John Sallis Chandler poses with his Marks and Spencer: Floral Market exhibition at the 2018 show.

Courtesy of RHS/Luke MacGregor

Chelsea Flower Show 2018

Queen Elizabeth views the Peter Beales Roses exhibition in 2018.

Courtesy of RHS/Luke MacGregor

Chelsea Flower Show 2019

Waiters in red jackets serve champagne at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gala 2019.

Courtesy of RHS/Georgi Mabee

Chelsea Flower Show 2019

The James Doran Webb Driftwood Sculptor tradestand at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019.

Courtesy of RHS/Georgi Mabee

Chelsea Flower Show 2019

An acapella group perform in the “D-Day Revisited Garden” designed by John Everiss Design in 2019.

Courtesy of RHS/Suzanne Plunkett

Chelsea Flower Show 2019

Judi Dench is presented with an elm tree sapling on the Hillier Nurseries exhibition in 2019.

Courtesy of RHS/Luke MacGregor

Chelsea Flower Show 2019

‘The Living Herbarium’ floral display by Gail Smith. Floristry in 2019.

Courtesy of RHS/Georgi Mabee

Chelsea Flower Show 2019

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Cambridge are given a tour of the RHS Back to Nature Garden by the Duchess of Cambridge in 2019. The garden was designed by the Duchess herself and landscape architects Andree Davies and Adam White of Davies White Landscape Architects.

Courtesy of RHS/Luke MacGregor

Featured image: Chelsea Flower Show 2019 / RHS / Luke MacGregor

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