REPORT: JUBIDA BEGUM
N ot many people can say they married their soulmate in a historic wedding ceremony and met the King and Queen on the same day, but that’s exactly what happened to garden designer Manoj Malde and his new husband Clive Gillmor.
Manoj, the ambassador for inclusivity and diversity at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), and horticulturalist Clive became the first same-sex couple to tie the knot in the Chelsea Flower Show’s 110-year history.
The traditional Hindu ceremony took place at the Eastern Eye Garden of Unity, which Manoj designed for this year’s event, and was attended by a crowd of 30 family members and friends.
Bright floral arrangements and colourful displays of Japanese cherry, cardoons and oregano were complemented by sitar and flute music as the couple said their vows after 33 years together.
“It took us 18 years to get engaged but in our minds, we’ve always been married to each other,” Manoj said. “Today we’re making it more official.”
Saying everything had “gone to plan”, he added: “The RHS have been amazing. If I had to do all the wedding organisation as well as the garden build, I would have been a broken man.”
Making the day even more special, the King and Queen dropped by the garden after the ceremony to meet the happy couple, with Her Majesty wishing them: “Many congratulations.”
His Majesty, meanwhile, suggested they should be out celebrating. “You probably should be dashing off somewhere. Well done,” he said with a warm smile.
PETAL POWER
RHS judge James Alexander-Sinclair, the celebrant at the wedding, said: “It’s a Chelsea first and Chelsea one-off –
