THE QUEEN ADDED A STUNNING TOUCH OF BLUE PAISLEY TO THE SPECTACULAR PALATE OF COLOURS ON SHOW AT THIS YEARS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW. HER MAJESTY AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WALKED AMID THE LUSH GARDENS IN THE AFTERNOON SUNSHINE DURING A GLITTERING SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE SHOW AHEAD OF ITS PUBLIC OPENING ON FRIDAY. PRINCE AND PRINCESS MICHAEL OF KENT, PRINCESS ALEXANDRA AND THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER JOINED THE QUEEN TO TAKE IN THE SPECTACLE OF A SHOW THAT HAS BEEN HAILED AS THE MOST DAZZLING IN YEARS. DESPITE CONCERNS THAT THE CHELSEA WOULD FAIL TO BLOOM FULLY AFTER THE COLDEST WINTER IN 31 YEARS, THE UNSEASONABLY WARM SPELL IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE SHOW HAS BROUGHT OUT A RIOT OF COLOUR INTO BLOOM. STEPHEN BENNETT, DIRECTOR OF THE SHOW, SAID THAT THE HARSH WINTER HAD BEEN 'ABSOLUTE HELL' FOR GROWERS, BUT ADDED: 'WE HAVE THE EARLY STUFF HERE BECAUSE IT WAS COLD, AND ALL THE SUMMER STUFF HAS LEAPT INTO BLOOM.' ABOUT £20 MILLION WORTH OF JEWELS WERE INSTALLED IN THE GLITTERING 'ACE OF DIAMONDS GARDENS', THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE SHOW'S HISTORY, AHEAD OF THE QUEEN'S ARRIVAL. THEY WERE REMOVED BEFORE THE PUBLIC OPENING OVER SECURITY FEARS. THE ROYAL PARTY ALSO VISITED A GARDEN BUILT IN HONOUR OF PROFESSOR STEPHEN HAWKING BY THE MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE ASSOCIATION, WHICH CENTERED AROUND A DARK SWIRLING WATER FEATURE MEANT TO REPRESENT A BLACK HOLE. PROFESSOR HAWKING, THE EMINENT SCIENTIST WHO SUFFERS FROM MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE, WAS GREETED WARMLY BY THE QUEEN AS SHE ATTENDED THE EVENT TO UNVEIL HIS GARDEN. THE MONARCH ALSO VISITED THE EDEN PROJECT'S PLACES OF CHANGE GARDEN, THE LARGEST EVER TO BE BUILT AT CHELSEA, WHICH WAS CONSTRUCTED BY A GROUP OF PRISONERS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE. THE ROYAL FAMILY HAS LONG BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANNUAL HORTICULTURAL ATTRACTION AND ITS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN REGULAR VISITORS FOR DECADES. THE ARRAY OF CELEBRITIES IN ATTENDANCE WITH THE QUEEN INCLUDED HELEN MIRREN AND JERRY HALL, AND MODEL TWIGGY WAS PRESENTED WITH A BOUQUET OF NEWLY-BRED HYBRID 'TWIGGY' ROSES.
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