The Queen braved the rain at Monday's preview

More than 40,000 people wearing waterproofs and carrying umbrellas queued to see various exhibits at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, west London.

Up to 157,000 people are expected to attend over the course of the four-day show, which was opened to members of the Royal Horticultural Society on Tuesday.

"It has done remarkably well and we are sold out for the whole week," a spokesman said.

"All the tickets for Tuesday sold out in February."

A group of prisoners from Leyhill open prison near Gloucester were awarded top prize on Tuesday for their exhibit in the show garden awards.

It is a feeling like I have never felt before - it is absolutely incredible Jez, Leyhill prison inmate

Nine inmates created the No Time To Stand and Stare garden which focuses around a boathouse.

Jez, 24, who is due to be released from prison next month, took a machinery qualification to be able to operate the digger which built the garden.

"It is a feeling like I have never felt before - it is absolutely incredible.

"I definitely want to continue in this line of work - landscaping."

The best-in-show award went to the minimalist Laurent-Perrier garden, designed by landscape architect Tom Stewart-Smith, 43, from Watford.

Weather girl's winning garden

Mr Stewart-Smith, who has won gold five times but never best in show, said: "I am really pleased. It has been exhausting but I am off to drink some of my sponsors' champagne."

In the courtyard garden section, Sky weather girl Hazel Murray celebrated her first win with her Tuscan-themed garden.

And after 34 years of attending the show, Peter and Joan Beale from Norfolk accepted the President's Award for a floral exhibit.

Their family company Peter Beale's Roses was behind the stall, which was designed by their son Richard.

"To win it this year is rather nice," said Mr Beale.