A HYBRID rhododendron created by the late Edmund de Rothschild was named Princess Michael of Kent during a Royal visit to the world famous Exbury Gardens in the New Forest.

Mr de Rothschild, who died last year, had not named the peachy-cream coloured large flowered cross between Rh fortunei and Rh. Idealist.

So the Royal visit by Prince and Princess Michael last week gave the de Rothschild family the ideal opportunity to name the variety after the princess who said she was “looking forward to having one of these beautiful plants” in her courtyard garden.

Prince Michael followed Royal tradition and planted a tree close to the main drive and, like the Queen, enjoyed a footplate ride on Exbury’s narrow gauge steam railway.