Gardeners’ World star Monty Don shared his reaction after King Charles and the RHS Chelsea Flower Show lifted a ban on a garden item for the first time in 13 years
Monty Don has shared his thoughts on a divisive garden feature that King Charles is said to be fond of. In the run-up to this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, it’s been revealed that the monarch will be permitting gnomes to feature in his garden displays.
The decision marks a major shift for the Royal Horticultural Society event, which has only lifted its long-running gnome ban once before – in 2013, for the show’s centenary.
Speaking on Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball’s Dig It podcast, Monty revealed that while gnomes aren’t to his personal liking, he adopts a laid-back stance towards them.
“I feel very tolerant. I don’t have them in my garden, so I can’t pretend they are a big part of my life, but I don’t object to them in any way,” he explained.
The ban was said to be implemented on the grounds that gnomes were deemed too commercial and inconsistent with the show’s design standards.
The RHS has made a U-turn on the ban as part of a fundraising effort designed to support the next generation of gardeners.
As part of the campaign, celebrities have been asked to decorate gnomes, which will be showcased at the 2026 show and subsequently auctioned to generate funds for the organisation’s Campaign for School Gardening.
RHS Director General Clare Matterson stated the initiative aims to promote a more light-hearted approach to gardening. The money raised, she noted, will help spark curiosity about gardening amongst schoolchildren and support broader access to gardening in education.
“Gardening in schools increases resilience, builds confidence, encourages curiosity and gives access to nature – it’s a vital resource that every school should have access to,” she said.
The decorated gnomes will be positioned across gardens bursting with vibrant blooms, including delphiniums in blue – reportedly among the King’s most cherished flowers.
Monty, alongside Jamie Butterworth, helped create the BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show, which welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla as visitors.
He subsequently shared his experience of meeting the royal pair at the occasion. Writing on Instagram, he said it was “very good to see the King and Queen at Chelsea” and called them “true lovers and champions of gardens and gardeners”.
He has frequently praised their passion for horticulture. Speaking to Radio Times, he said the King possesses a “real personal interest” in gardening and described him as a “keen and good gardener,” while also noting that Queen Camilla shares this enthusiasm and has even visited his own garden.
Monty has additionally highlighted the King’s practical involvement at the Birkhall estate in Scotland, where he reportedly prunes trees himself. Recalling a visit there, he said he felt “privileged” to experience the garden, describing it as “in some ways” on par with other private gardens he has explored.
Gardeners’ World airs tonight at 8pm on BBC Two.
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