At the recent Chelsea Flower Show, many working members of the Royal Family appeared to spend time with the public at the yearly event—but it appears that Kate Middleton really stole the show.
The Princess of Wales surprised attendees when she arrived at the show on May 22nd and even joined the schoolchildren for a picnic on the lawn. When asked by one of the precocious kiddos what the royal family “does”, Kate had a quick answer…and some think her response was a low-key shade to Prince Harry.
Princess Kate Tells Child Royal Duties Are 'Hard' Work—But There Are Some Upsides
Kate happened to attend the Chelsea Flower Show the same day children from 10 elementary schools were visiting as part of the Royal Horticultural Society's Campaign for School Gardening, of which the Princess of Wales is a passionate promoter. Kate remarked in 2019, "In recent years I have focused much of my work on the early years, and how instrumental they are for outcomes later in life. I believe that spending time outdoors when we are young can play a role in laying the foundations for children to become happy, healthy adults."
The Princess' attendance at the Flower Show was a big hit with the kids, who didn't hold back in peppering the former Duchess of Cambridge with dozens of questions about royal life. Asked by one child what the royal family "does," Kate responded, "You have to work hard, but you know the best thing about it is meeting kiddies like you." She also added, "[The royal family helps] support all the different people in the country, showcase all the amazing work being done and look after everyone."
One of the schoolchildren, 11-year-old Saron Fikremariam, later told reporters "I asked her what’s the first thing she is going to do when she becomes Queen and she said she is going to help kids." It seems that Kate was making a point about the upsides of the hard work of royal life—that there are many positives, like meeting local children and highlighting the good work being done in the country and assisting those who need help the most.
Some felt the response was a bit of shade toward Prince Harry, who famously left his duties as a working royal along with wife Meghan Markle in 2020, and wrote of his frustrations with royal and public life in his recent tell-all memoir, Spare. Wrote one Harry critic for Australia's News.com, "[Harry] might have traded ever having to go to the Chelsea Flower Show and having to pretend to care about dahlias for weeknight nigiri sessions with rom-com royalty in Montecito, but Kate’s message still applies to him."
However, Kate may have benefitted from a warning the Duke of Sussex included in Spare: Charles, now the king, does not like being outshone—especially by the younger royals. "Pa and Camilla didn't like Willy and Kate drawing attention away from them or their causes. They'd openly scolded Willy about it many times," Harry wrote.
King Charles Reportedly Angry Princess Kate Stole His Flower Show Spotlight
Despite her capturing the hearts of schoolchildren and putting a positive face on royal duties to perhaps counteract Prince Harry's more negative take, one family member was reportedly unhappy with Kate's appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show: King Charles III.
Reading Harry’s book, a lot is clear. How each member is jealous of the next. Charles gets mad Kate has goes to a flower show the same day he has an important appearance because the press will be following her. Will mad Diana left her estate to Harry. When he gets much more. https://t.co/h58Sp8TRFC
— Karen Baker (@KarenBa17688073) June 18, 2023
According to the Daily Mail, between Kate's appearance at the coronation, piano performance at Eurovision, and her hit walkabout at the Flower Show, Charles is beginning to feel "eclipsed" by the beautiful younger royal. The problem may stem from Charles' alleged feelings of being overshadowed by the popular Princess Diana at royal events when the pair would appear together during their marriage. The new Princess of Wales' massive popularity with the public may be a difficult reminder of those complicated times.
The 2023 Chelsea Flower Show was the first time King Charles attended as monarch, but Kate's surprise appearance garnered a lot of media attention. "With his love of horticulture, His Majesty's appearance at Chelsea was an important engagement," an insider reportedly told the Daily Mail. "It's a shame that his visit with Her Majesty the Queen received less coverage than might have been expected," they continued, in reference to how Princess Kate's appearance stole the show, adding, "I hope they are not too disappointed."
