The Chelsea Flower Show Has Been Canceled For the First Time Since WWII
The Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show has joined the growing list of tentpole events that have been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
"All RHS Shows, Garden Events and school visits will be cancelled with immediate effect until 30 June 2020," the RHS announced in a statement. The society's gardens will remain open for the time being, with "a number of increased precautionary measures in place."
The news comes a day after the UK government announced new social distancing guidelines, which advise citizens to avoid "large gatherings," as well as restaurants and bars, and to work from home as much as possible.
While some events have been postponed instead of fully canceled, it seems the RHS had little choice but to call off plans for the Chelsea Flower Show. "One of the many reasons why we cannot postpone any of these large events to later in the year is that most of the thousands of plants grown for these shows are chosen because they are at their best in spring," the society explained in its statement.
The Chelsea Flower Show is an annual highlight for horticulturalists and royal watchers alike, and generally sees Queen Elizabeth visit on its press day, just before the show opens to the public. Last year, Kate Middleton even co-designed a garden for the event, and showed the Queen around the final space herself—but not before letting her and Prince William's kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis explore it themselves.
A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on May 19, 2019 at 2:31pm PDT
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