The exception was made for a fundraiser in which celebrities decorated gnomes to be auctioned, aimed at sparking children’s interest in gardening.
The move reopened a cultural fault line at Britain’s most prestigious flower show, where officials have long treated gnomes as too kitschy for Chelsea.
RHS figures still distanced themselves from the ornaments, but some participants argued the one-off reprieve should become permanent.
Was breaking a century-old tradition with gnomes a financial triumph for the RHS's youth charity?
Will the gnome's temporary return become permanent after the successful 2026 charity auction?