The Queen takes a surprise joy ride in a royal first

With continuing mobility issues, the Queen hopped onto the back seat of a luxury buggy to tour the Chelsea Flower Show, treating garden visitors to an unexpected spectacle. SEE THE PHOTOS

There was no stopping the Queen from smelling the roses at the Chelsea Flower Show.

With continuing mobility issues, the 96-year-old buckled up to tour the gardens using a luxury buggy at the annual showcase for the first time.

Buckingham Palace said the mobility vehicle used was the four-seater that belonged to the Royal Household, the Danish-made electric buggy known as the Rolls Royce of golf carts with a reported value of $110,000.

“Adjustments have been made for the Queen’s comfort,” said a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman. “[She] will be shown around 10 gardens using the vehicle.”

Queen Elizabeth II is given a tour of The Chelsea Flower Show 2022 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Picture: Getty Images.

Queen Elizabeth II is given a tour of The Chelsea Flower Show 2022 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Picture: Getty Images.

The Queen delighed the crowds at the flower show.

This year sees the Show celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and also a theme of calm and mindfulness running through the garden designs. (

While it’s the first time the Queen has used a buggy to tour the event, she has been pictured using a golf cart at least twice in the past 12 years.

She was transported in a golf buggy during the Coronation Festival at Buckingham Palace in 2013, and before that was seen in a solar-powered buggy on a tour of Canberra’s Government House during her 2011 tour of Australia with Prince Phillip.

While the Queen’s bout of Covid and difficulties walking have seen her public appearances reduced, she attended an increasing number of events ahead of the coming Jubilee Celebrations.

Last week she made surprise visits to the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the official opening of the London’s Subway’s Elizabeth Line.

.The Chelsea Flower Show returned to its usual place in the horticulture calender.

The Queen overcome her mobility issues with the help of the buggy.

The Queen Elizabeth travels by golf cart with Camilla and Prince Charles at the Coronation Festival, in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, in 2013. Picture: Getty Images.

On Monday local time she arrived at the Royal Horticultural Society gardens for a preview of the yearly flower show, which she has attended at least 50 times.

She was joined by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra

Sue Biggs, director general of the Royal Horticultural Society, told BBC Radio 4 that this year’s Chelsea Flower Show was filled with tributes to the Queen’s 70-year reign.

She said the monarch is the only queen in history to have had three “signatures”, a painting of a member of the Royal family with their favourite family.

“We look forward to seeing her and showing her the signature later on this afternoon, which will be great,” she said before the event.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II visits Paddington Station in London to mark the new 'Elizabeth Line' rail service, Picture: AFP.

As Queen Elizabeth II prepares to mark her Platinum Jubilee, get an in-depth look at her life and reign, in your 124-page commemorative keepsake magazine.