There are things a monarch says during a war and there are things a monarch says during a war that GB News confirms under the headline “King Charles declares spinach ‘the best thing in the world’ at Sandringham Flower Show,” and on Wednesday, while the United States was completing its 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iran and Brent crude was approaching $100 a barrel, King Charles arrived at the inaugural RHS Sandringham Flower Show on a horse-drawn carriage, walked through the gardens, stopped to ask schoolchildren whether they grew vegetables at school, and declared spinach the best thing in the world.
Charles arrived at the show with Camilla, both of them drawn from Sandringham House along a track through the Old Norwich Gates by two white horses, which is the mode of arrival that the RHS had presumably anticipated when it agreed to stage the first ever horticultural show at a royal residence. He wore a light suit and carried a walking stick, which is either a health precaution or the appropriate accessory for a man touring flower exhibits, and a string quartet played the national anthem as the couple descended from the carriage, which is the reception you receive at a flower show when you are the King who co-designed the centrepiece garden.
The centerpiece is the RHS Royal Legacy Garden, developed by Charles in collaboration with garden designer Catherine MacDonald, featuring delphiniums, acers, magnolias, and roses (described by the RHS as the King’s “most-loved plants”). There is a Biodiversity Award, bestowed by Charles personally to the exhibit he judges most effective at promoting biodiversity in gardens. There is also a Queen’s Special Award for Upcycled Container Gardens, which Camilla bestowed upon a bee-themed display called The Queen Bee, made by pupils at Ingoldisthorpe Church of England Primary School near the estate. Charles asked the schoolchildren whether they grew vegetables. A child said yes. Charles said spinach was the best thing in the world.
The traditional Sandringham Flower Show, which has run since 1881, was not cancelled. It was deferred to 2027 to make room for the RHS version, which is the distinction between cancellation and scheduling that the volunteer committee trust that has organized the show for 145 years, including through two world wars, is presumably drawing.
The show runs through July 26. Charles is managing cancer. Oil is above $100 a barrel. The spinach comment will be the most quoted thing he says this week.
When the King of a country bombing Iran for the 13th consecutive day declares spinach the best thing in the world at a flower show, what exactly is the monarchy for?
Sources
GB News: King Charles declares spinach ‘the best thing in the world’ at Sandringham Flower Show
GB News: King Charles strikes agreement to replace traditional Sandringham Flower Show
