David Austin Roses Unveils The King’s Rose at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025
Renowned rose breeder David Austin Roses has launched a special rose as a tribute to King Charles III. The King’s Rose, which has been 12 years in the making, made its debut at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025. This semi-double, repeat-flowering robust shrub boasts delicately papery petals with distinct stripes in shades of fuchsia pink and white, creating an almost hand-painted look reminiscent of old Gallica roses.
According to House Beautiful, The King’s Rose has a vase-shaped growth habit and heart-shaped leaves, with vibrant yellow stems to attract pollinators. Its light-medium musk fragrance has hints of fresh apple and rose water, with a beautiful warmth coming from soft clove notes. The rose has been carefully nurtured by King Charles’ team of gardeners in his private gardens at Highgrove for the past three years.
The King’s Rose will be the focal point of the immersive secret garden-themed stand in the Great Pavilion at RHS Chelsea 2025, from 20th-24th May. David J.C. Austin, Chairman at David Austin Roses, said, “Chelsea Flower Show is an incredibly special place for us. It’s where my father first exhibited his award-winning roses back in 1983, and ever since then, introducing a new variety here has become something of a tradition. The King’s Rose is particularly special – it’s our first striped rose, created in collaboration with The King’s Foundation.”
The rose has been bred using a meticulous process, with Head Breeding Manager, Carl Bennett, leading the effort. Each year, over 40,000 seedlings are carefully nurtured and evaluated, and then gradually whittled down to just one final rose that meets the highest standards of beauty, fragrance, and resilience. Carl Bennett said, “Breeding a new rose is a real labour of love, requiring plenty of patience and attention to detail at every stage of the process. The King’s Rose is the result of over a decade of careful selection and refinement, and we are incredibly proud to see it come to life.”
The King’s Rose is available to buy for £36.50 via David Austin Roses. Proceeds from each sale will go to supporting The King’s Foundation and its work in building sustainable communities. This is the second royal rose to launch and debut at RHS Chelsea 2025, following Catherine’s Rose, a beautiful coral-pink floribunda rose named after Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Catherine’s Rose, bred by Harkness Roses, is richly fragranced with hints of Turkish Delight and mango. It’s been launched to celebrate the healing power of nature and how spending time outdoors can support our mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. The rose is available for pre-order and will debut on Harkness Roses’ stand inside the Great Pavilion during Chelsea week.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is an iconic event in the gardening calendar, and House Beautiful is excited to see The King’s Rose take center stage. With its unique characteristics and royal connections, this rose is sure to be a hit with gardening enthusiasts and fans of the royal family alike.
The King’s Rose is a fitting tribute to King Charles’ passion for horticulture, and its launch at RHS Chelsea 2025 is a testament to the enduring legacy of the royal family and their love of gardening. As the Daily Editor at House Beautiful, Olivia Heath has been following all the action from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and she is excited to share more news and updates from the event.
For more information on The King’s Rose and RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025, visit House Beautiful.
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