RHS Lifts Gnome Ban for 2026 Chelsea Flower Show

The Royal Horticultural Society announced that it will lift its longstanding ban on garden gnomes at the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, allowing celebrities to decorate the figurines for display and auction to support school gardening initiatives. The event, held from May 19 to 23 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, marks only the second time in the show's 113-year history that the prohibition has been relaxed, following a similar allowance in 2013 to celebrate the centenary.

The decision stems from King Charles III's personal affinity for gnomes, which has influenced this year's programming. At Highgrove, the king's private estate in Gloucestershire, a gnome in the stumpery garden is known to mysteriously relocate, a playful tradition attributed to the monarch himself. Melissa Simpson, head of horticulture at The King's Foundation, described the phenomenon during a recent RHS video. "We've got a little gnome that seems to move around and I'm sure it's the boss, the King, moving that around just to keep us on their feet," she said. This whimsical element aligns with the show's emphasis on encouraging joy and experimentation in gardening, moving away from rigid standards...