Prince Charles’ enthusiasm for all things horticultural continues a long held interest of many of his rural ancestors. It appears likely that his younger son Prince Harry will follow in the family tradition.
While still in Afghanistan dispatching Taliban insurgent to Iblis with his Apache helicopter, he has put in planning for his own display garden at next year’s Chelsea Flower Show.
While this may come as something of a surprise to those familiar with Prince Harry’s more widely publicized pursuits, he is following in his mother’s footsteps. Princess Diana involvement with third world non-government organizations was proverbial. Now her son has taken up the torch.
A decade ago, Prince Charles commissioned a healing garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in memory of his grandmother, the Queen Mother. His son’s entry on the showpiece central avenue will be through
Sentebale, a charity supporting orphans and vulnerable children in Lesotho, founded in April 2006 by Prince Harry, along with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.
And if ever a cause was worthy of support it is such as this. A southeastern African kingdom landlocked by South Africa, Lesotho is a basket case if ever there was one.
Sentebale translates as ‘forget me not.’ But it has been. Of the two million population 40% live below international poverty line of $1.25 a day; 270,000 are infected with HIV. It has the world’s highest rate of rape. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks it at 156th among the planet’s nations.
The Sentebale Garden is to be a project of Jinny Blom, one of Britain’s foremost garden designers. Indeed it was she who produced the Queen Mother’s garden for the Prince of Wales. It won a Silver Medal. Doubtlessly, Prince Harry hopes to go for the Gold. It is believed that the high street do-it-yourself chain B&Q will be the sponsors.
Alice Lycett Green, of Sentebale, recently told Richard Kay of the
Daily Mail: “We’re waiting feedback on the design from the RHS. Prince Harry is pretty involved in what we do. His father is a keen gardener, so we are hoping he has inherited his green fingers.”
Hopefully, though, not the habit of talking to plants. Particularly Naked Lady Lily,
Brunsvigea parkeri. 
