Yarnton Garden Centre is offering a Chelsea Flower Show-themed afternoon tea experience, featuring botanical treats, delicate sandwiches, and freshly baked scones.

Rebecca Gurnett, group events manager at Blue Diamond Group, said: “RHS Chelsea Flower Show is one of the cherished highlights of our year and we’re delighted to celebrate the event with our customers.

“Our limited-edition afternoon tea captures the magic of Chelsea and the flavours of spring. We can’t to share it with you.”

The sweet selection includes a mini fruit meringue nest, a carrot and vanilla mascarpone cupcake, a raspberry crème brûlée toadstool tart, and a chocolate marquise plant pot topped with chocolate ‘soil’.

Sandwiches include classic options such as tuna and cucumber, Coronation chicken, ham and mustard, egg mayonnaise, and cheese and pickle.

The afternoon tea is priced at £25.95 per person. It will be available from Monday, May 18, to Sunday, May 24. It is available to book online now at https://events.bluediamond.gg/branches.

The Chelsea Flower Show returns this year from May 19 to 23 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London.

Last year, the Blue Diamond Group won its first gold medal at the show, along with the prestigious Tree of Show accolade.

The A44 dual carriageway through Yarnton and Begbroke, near Kidlington in Oxfordshire, is shut for the duration of this weekend, Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17.

A traffic regulation notice was issued by Oxfordshire County Council announcing the road would be shut to all traffic between 4am and 6pm each day, in both directions.

The road works are to ‘facilitate surface sealing works’, according to the order.

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This is a preventative road dressing designed to prevent moisture ingress and freeze-thaw damage, one of the things that causes potholes on Oxfordshire’s roads, to preserve it.

The A44 closure is in place between Cassington Road and the roundabout with the A4095, Grove Road.

A suggested alternative route is via the A5096, the A4260 and A44 and vice versa to get around the road closure, though limited access will be maintained for emergency services and frontages in the closed road.

The soldier died after falling from their horse at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, with the incident taking place around 7pm on Friday, May 15, after exiting the arena.

According to Thames Valley Police, the soldier, who has not yet been named, died at the scene despite receiving immediate medical attention.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King only learned of the seriousness of the incident later.

We are appealing for information following an unexplained but non-suspicious death at @windsorhorse yesterday.

Anyone with information or material relating to this death should get in touch, quoting reference number 521 of today.

Read more: https://t.co/f0koHQ9jiA pic.twitter.com/epuxdy3WDE

— Thames Valley Police (@ThamesVP) May 16, 2026

They said: “While His Majesty and other Members of The Royal Family were present at the arena at the time the incident took place, they were not made aware of the severity of the situation until later.

“The King was greatly shocked and saddened to have learned subsequently of the Troop member’s death, and will be in touch with the family to share his personal condolences.

“The thoughts and most heartfelt sympathies of the whole Royal Family are with the victim’s loved ones and military colleagues at this time of grief.”

Following the tragedy, their display was omitted from the remainder of the Royal Windsor Horse Show programme.

Chief Superintendent Michael Loebenberg of Thames Valley Police said: “We are appealing for anyone with information or material relating to the sad death of a military rider at Royal Windsor Horse Show yesterday to please get in touch.

It is with deep regret that we confirm the death of a member of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.https://t.co/nsAQyvBsnD

— British Army 🇬🇧 (@BritishArmy) May 16, 2026

“Our thoughts are with the soldier’s family and the wider community in the military and at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at this extremely difficult time.

“At this stage, we have not found any suspicious circumstances.

“We are working with the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Accident Investigation Branch and Royal Windsor Horse Show organisers HPower to gather as much information as possible to understand how this happened.”

Jo Peck, event director at HPower Group, said the show would continue as planned without the King’s Troop display.

She said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the soldier who sadly died yesterday.”

An Army spokesperson said: “It is with deep regret that we announce a member of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery died on Friday, May 15, following a tragic incident at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

“The family has been notified, and our thoughts are with them at this sad and difficult time.”

Members of the public with information are urged to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 521 of today.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show, first held in 1943 to support the Second World War effort, has long held strong royal connections.

King George VI, the Queen Mother, and the then-Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret attended the very first event.

Queen Elizabeth II was an avid supporter throughout her life, regularly entering her homebred horses and ponies in competition.

The show is the only event in the UK to feature international contests in show jumping, dressage, driving, and endurance.