Royal National Rose Society

It was a membership organisation, with members drawn from professional and amateur gardeners and horticultural businesses.

At the height of its popularity, the RNRS had 100,000 members and its gardens contained 30,000 rose shrubs.

In 1858, he founded the first National Rose Show at St James's Hall on Piccadilly, London.

A committee of twenty judges evaluated the rose cultivars periodically throughout the season from June to September over two or three successive years.

[5] The Gold Medal was generally awarded each year to two or three roses of exceptional quality.

[6] In acknowledgement of the Society's important work, Queen Alexandra established the first Royal Patronage in 1888.

[3] The society's headquarters was moved from London to its new location at Bone Hill, Chiswell Green, near St Albans, Hertfordshire in 1959.

A decision was made at the conference to create a coalition of national rose societies.

In 1976 The Queen Mother attended the society's centenary reception at St. James's Palace.

Along with the rose exhibition, the two-day festival included live musical performances, craft fairs and trade stands.