There is a long tradition of naming things after royalty, and plants are no exception. While Queen Victoria gave her name to varieties of rhubarb and plums, and a potato renowned for its superior roasting qualities was named for Edward VII, there can be few accolades more delightful than having a rose named after you. At RHS Chelsea this week, all eyes were on a spectacular new English shrub rose, developed by David Austin Roses in collaboration with the King’s Foundation and named in honour of the King. The King’s Rose is no shrinking violet. Sporting look-at-me fuchsia and white stripes, it’s a true showstopper boasting a stunning profusion of semi-double blooms fragrant with musky hints of red apple and rosewater. David J. C. Austin describes it as ‘a tribute to the enduring values of His Majesty King Charles III through the work of the foundation, investing in education, sustainable practices, and the revitalisation of heritage.’
New Royal Rose Varieties Unveiled at Chelsea Flower Show
21st May 2025
With RHS Chelsea in full flower this week, it’s time to give your garden a regal makeover as two new royal rose varieties make their debut, named in honour of the King and the Princess of Wales.
Over on the Harkness Roses stand, an elegant rose of peachy pink has been named Catherine’s Rose after the Princess of Wales and is intended, according to the RHS, ‘to celebrate the incredible healing power of nature’. With a deep fragrance and perfectly formed blooms, £5 from every sale of Catherine’s Rose supports the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
If you’re looking to add a majestic touch to your borders, here are 10 more gorgeous varieties with a royal connection.
Introducing the Royal Varieties
THE QUEEN ELIZABETH
Bred by American rose specialist, Dr Walter Lammerts, in 1954 in honour of the new Queen, this pale pink hybrid variety won the World’s Favourite Rose award in 1979.
THE WILLIAM AND CATHERINE
The William and Catherine rose, was launched in 2011 by David Austin Roses to mark the marriage of Prince William to Catherine Middleton.
PRINCESS ANNE
Introduced in 2010 to honour The Princess Royal, this deep pink rose is described as “elegant and resilient”, a fitting match for this hard-working and no-nonsense royal.
DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES
There are several roses named after the late Princess, but this white rose with a yellow centre was chosen by Diana from seedlings supplied by Harkness roses. Harkness later provided thousands of stems for Diana’s funeral in 1997.
PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Named in honour of The Duke following his death in April 2021, for every sale of this unusual crimson pink rose with white stripes, Harkness Roses donates £2.50 to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Living Legacy Fund.
PRINCESS ALEXANDRA OF KENT
This bright pink, full-petalled rose was bred by David Austin in 2007 and named after the Queen’s cousin, Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy. A keen gardener and lifelong visitor to Chelsea, the Princess is also patron of the Alexandra Rose Charity, founded by her great grandmother, Queen Alexandra, in 1912.
SILVER JUBILEE
Bred in 1977 by Alec Cocker Sr of Royal Warrant Holders, Cocker’s Roses, to celebrate The Queen’s Silver Jubilee, this award-winning rose with coral pink blooms became the company’s best-selling variety.
JUBILEE CELEBRATION
A salmon-pink shrub rose with a heady scent, this variety was created by David Austin in 1993 but named in honour of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002.
ROYAL JUBILEE, 2012
Ten years later, David Austin celebrated The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with this showstopping rose, boasting massive, peony-like blooms.
