THE Chelsea Flower Show is awash with cocaine, a Sun investigation revealed.
We found multiple strong traces of the drug in the loos at the posh horticultural event.
Tests were carried out in 14 cubicles and eight tested positive for the Class A substance.
Traces were found on seats and shelves — with all three men’s toilet blocks testing positive.
The wipes used in our tests were the same as those adopted by police and turn blue if they come into contact with cocaine.
While some swabs showed only faint colouring, others had large bright blue patches.
It meant they had picked up sizeable traces of cocaine — suggesting the use was recent.
Possession of cocaine is punishable with up to seven years in jail.
The annual show at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea this week hosted a visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
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Other VIPs who have been there this week include the Queen, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, former Bond girls Rosamund Pike and Naomie Harris, and Hollywood star Demi Moore.
The show — once the preserve of pensioners and gardening enthusiasts — has ballooned in popularity.
This year the five-day event — which ends today — was expecting more than 165,000 guests.
A source said: “These days the place is full of youngsters — the Made In Chelsea set see it as a great day out and social event, just like the Henley Regatta in July.
“They’re not bothered about the flowers, they just want to get the champagne and Pimm’s in and enjoy the sunshine.
“It’s open from 8am to 8pm, so things can get very boozy.
“It’s no surprise that a few of the Hooray Henries are taking cocaine with them too.
“And more and more firms take clients to the show for an all- expenses-paid day out with free booze — and they’ll be the type who bring drugs with them.”
Tickets can cost up to £100. For the first two days only Royal Horticultural Society members and special guests may attend.
A Chelsea Flower Show representative said: “We’re shocked and disappointed that illegal substances have been discovered on-site and are investigating the matter.”
In 2013 traces of cocaine were found in several toilet cubicles at the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
It’s a different crowd
By PETER SEABROOK, Gardening Editor
I DON’T find these results surprising in the slightest.
The Monday before the show officially opens they hold Gala Night, where City types spend up to £600-a-head on tickets.
They’re not interested in gardening, they just see it as a night out. I would think they were much more likely to be the ones taking drugs — not ordinary gardeners. There are more private hospitality evenings too.
I’ve been involved with the show since 1952, but these days it is more and more about the design of gardens, rather than being focussed on hands-on gardening.
That means more and more guests are simply not interested in the actual horticulture. And that’s a real pity.
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