Dressed in springtime pink, Her Majesty was escorted by Sir Simon Hornby, President of the Royal Horticultural Society, and RHS Director General Andrew Colquhoun into the West Marquee and took keen interest in the tropical exhibit from the Caribbean island of Grenada.

She then spent some time with John Hillier examining the tree and shrub collection from Hillier Nurseries and the contemporary tea garden hidden behind the rhododendrons and other evergreens. She smiled at the Stephenson’s Rocket and the modern electric train made in carpet bedding by Darlington Borough Council.

She then turned to Sunflower Street, where TV gardener and e-garden columnist Peter Seabrook showed her the six terraced houses with their front gardens. She inspected them all carefully and was greatly interested by the fact that thirty nine students had worked on the gardens, gaining valuable experience at the world’s greatest flower show.

Alongside were the strawberries of Ken Muir and what could be more tempting than a juicy ripe strawberry? So a white glove was removed, a fruit was plucked and her face lit up as she bit into it and tasted the flavour.

Her tour continued with a pause at the pristine hostas from Ann and Roger Bowden then out of the marquee to the garden built for The Prince’s Trust. Designer Richard Sneesby discussed his design and explained how a number of craftspeople helped by the Trust had contributed to the construction and the sculpture.

The tour continued to the rock garden bank and then past the remaining outside gardens. She stood for a moment taking in the calm elegance of the Evening Standard’s garden by Arabella Lennox-Boyd and seemed very taken with the mirror which is the focal point of the garden in the French style with its box labyrinth for the Garden History Society.

Other members of the Royal Family who toured the show included the Duke of Edinburgh, in jovial mood, Princess Anne, Princess Margaret, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew. Prince Charles visited the show in the evening for the Charity Gala which raised funds for The Prince’s Trust.