Royal Watch News

Queen Elizabeth grows her own vegetables

Jun 15, 2009, 11:01 GMT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth has started growing her own vegetables at Buckingham Palace.

The 83-year-old monarch has turned part of her gardens at her London royal residence into an organic allotment.

It is the first time the royal family have had a vegetable patch since the World War II.

The site is being used to grow Blue Queen French and Royal Red beans from the Heritage Seed Collection, as well as potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and beetroot.

A palace spokesman said: "No chemicals have been used to cultivate the site. Liquid seaweed has been used to feed plants and garlic is used to deter aphids. Everything grown will be eaten in the palace."

Sources say the queen has been inspired by visiting numerous flower and garden shows.

One said: "The queen is very keen on gardens in general and she is always willing to try out new things.

"She attends the Chelsea Flower Show each year and has always been fond of Kew Gardens."

Buckingham Palace's garden covers 40 acres, and it includes a helicopter landing area, a four-acre lake, and a tennis court.

It is home to 30 different species of bird and more than 350 different wild flowers, some extremely rare.