Ouch! Shock for Ainsley as sister plunges into pond
‘She must have tripped over’
THE Queen was far from being the only royal to enjoy the displays at Chelsea yesterday.
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 were all there.
But it was another visitor who drew attention earlier on – for all the wrong reasons.
There was alarm when Ainsley Harriott’s sister Jacqueline took an unfortunate fall into a show pond. The celebrity chef, 65, and other visitors rushed to pull her from the water.
She was laid on the floor and was seen coughing up ‘a lot of water’ during the drama.
Paramedics took her away on a stretcher for a precautionary visit to hospital but Harriott confirmed later yesterday that Jacqueline was ‘doing fine’.
‘Just a big thank you to everyBall, one who helped my sister when she had a fall at the Chelsea Flower Show this morning,’ he posted on Twitter. ‘She’s doing fine and all is well.’
One visitor said: ‘The garden was packed. The woman must have fallen into the pond or tripped over and ended up in the water. She was pulled out by Ainsley Harriott and some other celebrities before they laid her down on the floor. She was coughing up lots of water.’
Volunteers said they would erect barriers around the feature following the incident.
The show returned to its traditional May slot for the first time since the pandemic and the first day swarmed with celebrities .
These included a triple-helping of Dames – Joanna Lumley, Judi Dench and Joan Collins (celebrating her 89th birthday). Dame Judi was there to launch a Woodland Heritage campaign promoting woodland management.
Three generations of the Ball family arrived, with Radio 2’s Zoe 51, son Woody Cook, 21, and TV veteran father Johnny Ball, who turned 84 yesterday. Also there were Dame Mary Berry, Phillip Schofield, Nick Knowles and Anthea Turner.
Among this year’s themes is the Platinum Jubilee, including a floral portrait in the official shade of royal purple.
One installation emulates the colours and planting of the Scottish landscape near Balmoral Castle, with a canopy of flowers including fresh delphiniums.
‘Planet-friendly gardening’ is a staple across the show, with exhibits and displays promoting sustainable practices.
Afterwards, 25 gardens will live on while the rest distribute plants and flowers to good causes.