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Here are some photos of Prince Harry at the annual Chelsea Flower Show, where he had his first-ever charity garden opening. Harry organized his garden for Sentebale, his Lesotho charity which helps fund HIV/AIDS treatments. So many members of his family came out to support him! Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla were there. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip were there too, as well as Prince Andrew and his daughters (although I don’t have photos of Andrew and the girls).
There were charmingly affectionate scenes at the Chelsea Flower Show today, as Prince Harry warmly greeted his family with kisses as they attended the opening of his charity garden. It was something of a family jolly for the royals at today’s VIP opening, and aside from the glorious displays of blooms, it was a chance to offer a show of support to the unexpected garden designer – Prince Harry.
The 28-year-old helicopter pilot was at Chelsea for the first time with his charity Sentebale, which hopes its African-inspired garden will highlight its work aids orphans in the impoverished kingdom of Lesotho. It is the first time that Sentebale has undertaken such a project and the prince has been closely involved in its creation – even examining designs emailed to him by designer Jinny Blom while stationed on the frontline in Afghanistan.
First up was Uncle Andrew and his daughter, Princess Beatrice, who said afterwards: ‘I think it is beautiful and loved the story behind it.’ Next was Uncle Edward – who had to be torn away from the strimmer display, according to Harry – with his father and step-mother hot on his heels.
Charles looked proud as punch at his son’s efforts and told him: ‘This is the great garden is it, after all that effort? I was wondering if it didn’t exist.’
Harry couldn’t resist jesting with his father: ‘If there is anything here which might catch your eye we could probably come to a deal. You can’t have it, but we can come to a deal.’
‘A deal?! ‘ said Charles with mock outrage.
The Prince of Wales then joked that the large round stone that is one of the main features of the garden could be a dance floor. It was only then that Harry noticed his grandfather, Prince Philip, waiting to come in.
‘Looking they’re even queuing,’ he joked. When Charles failed to notice the other VIP guest, Harry ribbed him: ‘Err, pa, meet your father!’, prompting Charles to look up with an exclamation of surprise.
‘You were meant to be looking at strimmers and tractors, Grandpa, I didn’t know you were coming. Fantastic!’ said Harry. ‘Hopefully you like it. You’ve been coming here for years and your opinion is highly regarded.’
The prince even teased Philip that a circular stone centrepiece to his garden span round with flashing lights rather like a nightclub podium.
‘Really?’ Philip enquired earnestly.
‘No, Grandpa, they wouldn’t let us,’ Harry joked.
Last to arrive was the Queen who delighted at her grandson’s efforts but apparently told Harry to send a few plants to his father’s Stumpery at Highgrove as he ‘needed a bit of greenery’.
When the Queen stood with her grandson on the stone circle, which is decorated with hearts and crowns, he told her: “Pa thought it was going to spin round – but sadly it doesn’t.’
Sentebale was set up by Harry in 2006 following a gap year visit to the tiny – and hugely impoverished – African kingdom of Lesotho. He was so moved by the experience that he vowed to spend the rest of his life helping the youngest victims of the country’s HIV/AIDS epidemic. In a country of just 1.8 million people, 23 per cent of adults are HIV positive and their life expectancy has plummeted to just 41 – leaving almost a generation orphaned.
The name Sentebale was chosen as it means ‘forget me not’ in the language of Lesotho, a tribute to both Harry’s mother and that of the children themselves. The charity hopes that by showing at Chelsea it will raise its profile and fundraising activities. The garden’s creator, Jinny Blom, said she had been inspired by the landscape of Lesotho itself as well as Harry’s experience of losing his mother Diana, Princess of Wales A pattern of hearts and crowns has been engraved on a circular terrace in the garden, acting as a memorial to the late princess.
Did anyone else get a little choked up about the Princess Diana stuff? Just me? I love the way Harry remembers his mother – it feels like his memories, his living memories of her are of the impact she made on the world, what she represented to people in a larger sense. It’s odd that Prince William doesn’t seem to remember Diana in the same way – to William, his mother seems to be merely a cautionary tale of how not to behave, or as a prop to be used to get his own way.
Also: is anyone surprised that Harry greets his stepmother with such affection? I do love that he kisses his dad though.
Photos courtesy of WENN.


















































































































































