Queen Elizabeth Shared the Best Throwbacks in Honor of the Chelsea Flower Show​

The Royal Ascot horse races, the Buckingham Palace garden parties, the Royal Windsor Horse Show, Trooping the Colour, Invictus Games...summer is the season of the royals. Unfortunately, all of these prime events have either been cancelled or moved online (or will be held without fans and spectators) in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Add to the list: the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show. But Her Majesty's social media team didn't miss a beat, instead honoring the show (which will now be taking place completely virtually for the first time ever) by sharing a series of throwback photos of Queen Elizabeth at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show from the 1950s.

In the first photo, Queen Elizabeth can be seen in a polka dot skirt or dress as she steps from one stone to the next. In the second photo in the carousel, she is wearing a coat dress, black gloves and pearls as she attends the show. In the final photo, Prince Philip is seen looking on as Her Majesty points to one of the flower displays.

Speaking of the virtual show in the caption, Queen Elizabeth said, "My family and I have always enjoyed visiting the Show, and I know that your Members and Supporters will be disappointed that they are unable to attend in person this year. I am sure that my grandmother, Queen Mary, who first attended the Chelsea Flower Show in 1916, would be delighted that many people today have an enthusiasm for horticulture, and that gardening remains a popular pastime in the United Kingdom."

The queen has served as patron of the RHS since 1952, and she first attended the show as monarch in 1955. She has visited almost every year since.

The RHS's annual flower show, which will host online offerings like gardening advice from experts and interviews with garden designers and celebrities, will run from May 18 to May 23 on the BBC and on RHS.org.uk.

Queen Elizabeth also shared photos of her favorite flower in honor of the virtual Flower Show. The Lilies-of-the-Valley, photographed in the Buckingham Palace gardens, have a special place in the monarch's heart.

"The Queen has chosen lily of the valley, pictured here in the Buckingham Palace gardens. Lily of the valley featured in Her Majesty’s coronation bouquet and has held special associations since," the caption reads.