King Charles and Queen Camilla visit the Chelsea Flower Show

King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined visitors to the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday in one of their first major public appearances since their coronation earlier this month.

The pair toured the gardens and displays with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

Among the exhibits they saw was the London Square Community Garden, designed by James Smith, which aims to emphasise community connections through a space where people can relax, share meals and interact with nature.

Of special interest was the Samaritans’ Listening Garden, designed by Darren Hawkes and inspired by those who have reached out to the Samaritans during difficult times.

As patron of the charity for more than 20 years, King Charles is dedicated to supporting their vision of reducing suicide rates.

The show was the perfect place for the king to find replacement plants for his garden – after they were eaten by rabbits.

It appears the monarch was on the lookout for something to fill a patch in his garden at Highgrove, his Gloucestershire home, after the animals took a liking to some of his plants.

When he stopped at designer Jane Porter’s garden Choose Love, a lavender sage plant – salvia lavandulifolia – with delicate purple flowers caught his eye.

The designer created the garden for the Choose Love charity, which supports asylum seekers around the globe, and featured plants such as old varieties of roses from the Middle East or irises from North Africa that those seeking sanctuary would recognise.

“He was really interested in one of the plants we’ve got because at Highgrove something’s being eaten by rabbits and he wants to replace it," Ms Porter said.

“I love that, that’s brilliant. He’s such a keen gardener. I’m sure he would have his eye out for all sorts of things – he was very knowledgeable about everything in the garden.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla visit Chelsea Flower Show - in pictures

The king was making his first visit to the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show as monarch and was joined by the queen, who toured the site separately.

As they separated to stroll around the flower show, a piece of garden furniture perfect for relaxing had Queen Camilla transfixed.

As she admired a garden swing in the Hamptons Mediterranean Gardens, designed by Filippo Dester, she was told: “You’re welcome to have a try of the swing if you want.”

The queen quickly accepted and once she sat down joked: “I might stay here.”

UK's King Charles III visits the Chelsea Flower Show - video

During the queen's trip around the attraction Paula Carnell, head beekeeper of The Newt in Somerset, shouted, “Will you come over here if you have time?”

Queen Camilla made her way over before Ms Carnell spoke in depth about the different hives, saying she and the queen share a love for the insect.

“We talked about bees because she’s a beekeeper herself and her daughter actually has a rocket hive," she said.

“You forget all the royalness of it when you’re speaking about something you’re passionate about. It’s lovely, it’s nice to have that connection.”

Before leaving, the king and queen presented the new Elizabeth Medal of Honour, which recognises British and international non-horticulturists, and horticulturists from overseas, who have significantly advanced the science, art or practice of horticulture for the benefit of all and the environment.

The award will be confined to 70 recipients at any one time, in reference to the 70 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign.

Recipients were the world-renowned garden designer Piet Oudolf, Baroness Janet Fookes, a leading voice in Westminster on the importance of horticulture, and environmental champion Judy Ling Wong.

“The Royal Horticultural Society was exceptionally fortunate to have Her Majesty as our patron throughout her reign," RHS president Keith Weed said of the medal.

“This award celebrates both Her Majesty’s glorious reign and the work she did to raise the profile of UK horticulture, both nationally and internationally, through her visits to RHS Chelsea Flower Show and wider work.”

This year's Chelsea Flower Show is the first since Queen Elizabeth II's death. A regular visitor, the queen often had the RHS Chelsea Flower Show marked in her calendar and she even attended in 2022 despite health problems.

To honour Queen Elizabeth, her family had been scheduled to visit the Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration, a piece by Dave Green.

This garden serves as a tribute to the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla and celebrates Queen Elizabeth. A special presentation was scheduled during their visit.

Chelsea Flower Show 2023 - in pictures

A visitor views at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. The show is held for five days each May by the Royal Horticultural Society. Getty
A flautist performs in Korean-inspired garden A Letter from a Million Years Past. Getty
Lucy Vail, who last year, aged 30, became became the youngest florist to create the Royal Entrance archway, unveils her 2023 creation. PA
Daffodils, and other narcissi, on display. Getty
A bust of King Charles III in the RHS Royal Tribute garden. PA
Chefs busy in The Savill Garden, the shows first working kitchen garden. PA
Chelsea Flower Show staff get into the floral spirit. Getty
Designer Ji-hae Hwang in her Korean-inspired garden, A Letter From a Million Years Past. PA
A Chelsea Pensioner, a resident of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, retirement and nursing home for former British Army personnel, admires the floral displays. Reuters

One of the highlights of this year's show is the Garden of Unity which represents the five pillars of Islam with five cherry trees.

The RHS and Eastern Eye Garden of Unity, which has a prime spot on the main avenue, was developed by British garden designer Manoj Malde, who is also the show's ambassador for diversity and inclusivity.

“I have tried very hard to make sure that in some way or another I am including various different communities, different cultural backgrounds and different ethnicities,” Mr Malde told the The National last week.

Earlier, the Princess of Wales joined pupils from participating schools at the show's first children's picnic.

Pupils from 10 schools in the Royal Horticultural Society’s campaign for school gardening were invited to the outdoor lunch, which took place before the start of the show.

Mingling with the young people picnicking at the site’s bandstand, Kate promoted the integration of gardening and nature into the lives of children – a cause she passionately supports.

During her visit, she was candid with the curious children about her royal duties, emphasising the hard work involved.

She also mentioned that her son, Prince Louis, is growing broad beans at school, furthering her message of the importance of gardening in education.

Adding a personal touch, the Princess of Wales demonstrated her talent for drawing by sketching flowers and plants for the children, instead of a signature.

Kate was welcomed by former servicemen and women when they encountered her at a walled kitchen garden designed by Mark Gregory.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, visits the Chelsea Flower Show - in pictures

Catherine, Princess of Wales, speaks with school pupils at the first Children's Picnic at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London. PA
The princess arrives at the show in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. PA
The princess shakes hands with children before the picnic. AP
She smiles during the children's picnic. PA
Pupils from 10 schools taking part in the RHS's Campaign for School Gardening sent children to the first children's picnic in the show's 110-year history. Getty
The princess speaks to Chelsea Pensioners. PA
She is given a tour of the flower show. PA

When asked about the lunch menu, Harry Puttick, a Chelsea pensioner who served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers for 30 years, said: “The peas are forgettable – you are not.”

He later added, acknowledging the nearby cook: “I’d better say the peas were wonderful, but it was fantastic to meet the future queen.”

In 2019, the Princess of Wales co-designed a garden for the Chelsea Flower Show, inspiring people to reconnect with nature.

The idea was born from her dialogue with the RHS that same year, when her garden was exhibited at Chelsea, after which she pushed for more children to be involved in the show.

More on the show

The Chelsea Flower Show is held each year in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London.

The event attracts 150,000 visitors during five days every May, with exhibits including gardens, floral displays and plant nurseries.

From May 23 to 27, 2023, the theme for this year's show, Restorative Power of Gardens and Gardening, will highlight the positive influence of gardens on health and well-being.

This year's show has a line-up of special features, including gardens designed by the Prince of Wales showing organic gardening benefits, the RHS emphasising pollinators' importance, the Chelsea Physic Garden exhibiting medicinal plants, and the BBC presenting the best of British gardening.

The show is a learning centre for the latest gardening trends and a platform to appreciate the therapeutic effects of gardening.

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?

Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
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Financial considerations before buying a property

Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.

“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.

Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.

Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Seven tips from Emirates NBD

1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details

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King Charles and Queen Camilla visit the Chelsea Flower Show

Royal couple tour the famous gardens and displays, which this year includes the Garden of Unity featuring Islam’s five pillars

King Charles and Queen Camilla visit Chelsea Flower Show - in pictures

UK's King Charles III visits the Chelsea Flower Show - video

Chelsea Flower Show 2023 - in pictures

Catherine, Princess of Wales, visits the Chelsea Flower Show - in pictures

More on the show

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?

Financial considerations before buying a property

Gulf Under 19s final

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi

Main report

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

Last-16

The specs

Results

ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE

Seven tips from Emirates NBD

The President's Cake

More from Firas Maksad

The specs