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Monty Don has shared his thoughts on a controversial garden feature that King Charles is reportedly a fan of. Ahead of this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show, it was announced that the monarch will be allowing garden gnomes to appear in his garden displays.

The move marks a notable shift for the Royal Horticultural Society event, which has only lifted its long-standing ban on gnomes once before, in 2013, when they were included to celebrate the show's centenary.

Speaking on Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball's Dig It podcast, Monty said that while gnomes are not to his personal taste, he takes a relaxed view of them. "I feel very tolerant. I don't have them in my garden, so I can't pretend they are a big part of my life, but I don't object to them in any way," he said.

The ban was implemented on the grounds that gnomes were deemed too commercial and not within the show's design standards.

The RHS made a U-turn on this as part of a fundraising initiative aimed at supporting the next generation of gardeners. As part of the campaign, celebrities have been invited to decorate gnomes, which will be displayed at the 2026 show and later auctioned to raise funds for the organisation's Campaign for School Gardening.

RHS Director General Clare Matterson said the initiative is designed to encourage a more playful approach to gardening. The funds raised, she explained, will help inspire curiosity about gardening in schoolchildren and support wider access to gardening in education.

"Gardening in schools increases resilience, builds confidence, encourages curiosity and gives access to nature - it's a vital resource that every school should have access to," she said.

The decorated gnomes will be placed throughout gardens filled with brightly coloured flowers, including delphiniums in blue, reportedly one of the King's favourite blooms.

Monty Don, along with Jamie Butterworth, previously helped design the BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden at last year's Chelsea Flower Show, which was visited by King Charles and Queen Camilla.

He later shared an account of meeting the royal couple at the event, posting on Instagram that it was "very good to see the King and Queen at Chelsea," and describing them as "true lovers and champions of gardens and gardeners."

He has often spoken positively about their enthusiasm for horticulture. In an interview with Radio Times, he said the King has a "real personal interest" in gardening and described him as a "keen and good gardener," adding that Queen Camilla is also passionate about it and has visited his own garden.

Monty also noted the King's hands-on approach at the Birkhall estate in Scotland, where he is said to prune trees himself. Reflecting on a visit there, he said he felt "privileged" to see the garden, describing it as "in some ways" comparable to other private gardens he has visited.

Earlier this year, he added that the King is "incredibly impressive" and "does his homework thoroughly," praising both Charles and Camilla as "excellent."

Gardeners' World airs tonight at 8pm on BBC Two.