Kate Middleton Reveals Her Baby’s Love for Flowers

 

The Back to Nature Garden dreamed up by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and executed by a team of designers, has found its final home at RHS Garden Wisley. The London papers paid more attention to Kate’s dress than to the garden, which they had previously seen at the Chelsea flower show in May and at the Hampton Court flower show in July.

But there was news to be made. Kate told a woman that her younger son, Louis, now 1, “loves smelling flowers.” This is practically the first solid news the world has had of Prince Louis, who, up until now, has been seen mostly to have chapped cheeks and to drool while teething.

He did point at airplanes overhead during the Trooping of the Colours in June, his first official Royal appearance.

And he has been seen playing with sticks at the first Back to Nature Garden.

Any woman with social ambitions now pregnant with what she hopes will be a daughter has already marked down that information for future reference, in case her daughter should ever chance to meet Prince Louis.

The dress that was so breathlessly reported on was a midi-length Emily Wickstead Aurora rose print on pale blue background, tightly belted, which sells for $2,255 (if there are any left).

The Duchess gave a speech about the importance of community, and said, “Whether it’s planting, exploring, digging, creating or playing, quality time spent outside provides children with the perfect environment to form those positive relationships with the people in their lives and the world around them. As a parent, I’ve learned just how important it is to foster our children’s development in all areas—not just physical—as soon as they are born. We build the blocks, the foundations, for future success and happiness later in their lives.”

The final Back to Nature space includes popular elements like the hollow log from Chelsea and the wildflower meadow and rolling hill showcased at Hampton Court, but also has two connected tree houses and slides, sure to create some family interaction, of the “Be careful,” variety. There is also rumored to be a hut made to look like a hedgehog, hedgehogs being a particular favorite mammal of British children (and adults).

Kate, as always, smiled gracefully in every photo, said appropriate things and never exposed any undergarments, even when getting out of the wagon hauled behind the tractor that chugged her to the affair. The entire country, in its current roiling political situation, is grateful to Prince William for picking a perfect wife.

Linda Lee

Linda Lee is a former editor at The New York Times. She was the deputy editor of the House & Home section, edited the garden columns, and wrote frequently for Sunday Styles.