The King and David Beckham’s growing friendship has taken a remarkable new turn, after it emerged last night that the monarch sent the star a 50th birthday gift.

Chatting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London, Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, congratulated the former England footballer on his landmark celebrations this month – and asked the star whether he had received their present.

Standing outside the Highgrove stand run by the monarch’s charity, the King’s Foundation, Beckham – who is now an ambassador for the organisation – greeted the sovereign warmly and said: ‘Your Majesty, it’s so nice to see you.’

Astonishingly, Charles then appeared to ask whether he had received the birthday present that he and his wife had sent.

‘You got it, didn’t you?’ he asked.

‘It was incredible,’ beamed Beckham. ‘Thank you, it was very kind.’

Camilla added: ‘Nice to see you again, glad you got the roses.’

Beckham, who was attending the flower show for the first time, told the Queen of his recent lavish celebrations and said he had enjoyed a ‘perfect’ and a ‘busy’ weekend, which was ‘a lot of fun’.

The King and David Beckham ‘s growing friendship has taken a remarkable new turn, after it emerged last night that the monarch sent the star a 50th birthday gift

Chatting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London , Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla , congratulated the former England footballer on his landmark celebrations

While the King and Beckham come from remarkably different backgrounds, they have been brought together by a shared love of gardening.

Walking the route through the show Charles, 76, used a country-style walking stick, which sources said were one of a ‘huge’ collection he often uses.

The King, who is patron of the RHS, and his wife were particularly keen to view the BBC Radio 2 Dog Garden designed by Monty Don.

The garden features grass areas for dogs to enjoy and a large tree providing shade, as well as water to paddle in.

The brick paths that wind through the garden are also inscribed with the names of the Queen’s adopted Jack Russell terrier, Bluebell, and her new puppy, Moley, alongside that of her much-loved dog Beth, which died last year. 

The name of the King’s new dog, Snuff, a lagotto romagnolo, is also included.

The couple chatted happily with Don, who had brought his own pet, Ned, a successor to the much-loved Nigel – a regular on Gardeners’ World – which died in 2020.

Beckham was wearing ‘The King’s Rose’, which will raise money for The King’s Foundation

The footballer told the royals that his 50th celebrations had been ‘perfect’. Pictured with his family

King Charles was joined once again by David Beckham at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday evening

King Charles and Queen Camilla led the way this evening as they attended the RHS Chelsea Flower Show

The retired football player appeared in good spirits as he chatted with the royal couple – with whom he’s spent much time in recent years

Beckham also met with Prince Edward, Alan Titchmarsh at the Royal Hospital Chelsea

James Middleton, the Princess of Wales’s brother, also paid a visit to the canine-friendly garden with his wife Alizee Thevenet and their two retrievers – Mable and Isla, which are Ned’s mother and sister. 

It was the first time Ned had seen them since he was a puppy, and appeared suitably excited.

Don said creating a garden had been a ‘humbling’ process that made him ‘hugely’ respect designers and makers of gardens at RHS Chelsea.

It has been designed to reflect the special place dogs hold in the nation’s hearts and will live on at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, of which the Queen is patron and from where she has re-homed her three most recent animals.

Also in attendance was Strictly Come Dancing runner-up Tasha Ghouri, wearing a pink dress and an elaborate floral headpiece.