A Royal Celebration: Marking 200 Years of The Caley with HRH The Princess Royal

Posted June 17, 2025

A Royal Celebration: Marking 200 Years of The Caley with HRH The Princess Royal

In May 2025, The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society (The Caley) marked a truly special milestone: 200 years since being granted our Royal Charter. To celebrate this historic occasion, we had the immense honour of welcoming Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Saughton Park, a day filled with recognition, reflection, and looking ahead to a flourishing future.

The Caley has proudly held a Royal Charter since 1824, recognising our role in promoting and advancing horticulture across Scotland. From our earliest days, across 200 years of growing, learning, and sharing, our mission has remained rooted in education, community, and the joy of growing. You can read more about our history here (opens in a new window).

This royal visit was not only a celebration of our past, but also a moment to honour the people who have shaped The Caley into what it is today, and to formally open a major new chapter in our story: the teaching glasshouse at Saughton Park.

The day began with a formal welcome by The Caley’s President, Lewis Normand, who introduced HRH The Princess Royal to Pam Whittle CBE SHM, our Honorary Vice President and former President. Pam played a pivotal role in bringing the event together and hosted the Princess throughout the visit. Together, they toured the demonstration gardens, where the Princess met with a number of those whose contributions have helped make The Caley’s teaching and community work possible. She was introduced to past Presidents Colin Ainsworth, George Anderson, Ron Tulloch and David Knott (now Honorary President), along with other key members of The Caley, whose dedication continues to support and strengthen our charitable mission.

The centrepiece of the visit was the official opening of the new teaching glasshouse, a space purpose-built to support our expanding education programme. From hands-on learning to workshops and demonstrations, this new facility is a vital addition to our mission of encouraging lifelong horticultural learning in Scotland. For many of us involved with The Caley, seeing this dream come to life and being recognised with such distinction was deeply moving.

As HRH The Princess Royal unveiled the commemorative plaque, it was a moment that couldn’t help but to inspire wonder about what’s to come and how the glasshouse will be playing a part in 200 years more. From our earliest founding members through to today’s volunteers, students, and supporters, some of whom were here for the visit but many who weren’t, what can we look forward to in the years ahead?

A royal visit is, of course, always a special occasion. But what made this day particularly special was the warmth and community of the day. Having so many members and supporters gathered together reflected everything The Caley stands for: shared purpose, generous expertise, and a love of growing things together.

As we look to the future, with our new teaching glasshouse open and our bicentenary year underway, we continue to focus on expanding opportunities for horticultural education, sustainability, and community engagement across Scotland, and we’re grateful to every member, volunteer, supporter, and friend who has helped us reach this moment.