Floriade is preparing for a royal visit as the Queen makes her 16th trip to Australia later this month.
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Accompanied by Prince Philip, the 85-year-old monarch will be touching down in Canberra on October 19, beginning her 10-day trip with a ceremonial welcome before visiting Floriade the following day.
The ACT Government's executive director of communications, Jeremy Lasek, described the impending visit as a coup for Canberra and priceless promotion for the annual flower show.
''This is publicity that money can't buy,'' he said.
''Her Majesty and Prince Philip seem to have quite an entourage of media, so we're preparing for anything and, in our view, the more the merrier.''
The royal couple is also scheduled to visit the Australian War Memorial and St John's Church during their time in Canberra.
Mr Lasek said an advance party was taken to a variety of local sites several weeks ago in preparation for the visit, but would not comment on which suggested attractions were left off the itinerary.
''We took them to a number of sites and unfortunately their time is limited,'' he said. Mr Lasek said he was thrilled Floriade was chosen, despite the event being scheduled to finish several days before the royal arrival.
He said Floriade organisers would go ahead with the planned closing date of October 16, with garden staff staying on to target specific sections of the site.
''I don't expect the Queen will see the whole Floriade site,'' he said.
Mr Lasek said the visit could also boost visitor numbers in the final week of the festival.
''This is putting it out there that the royals are coming,'' he said.
''Hopefully people who were thinking about coming will make the effort. It should put Floriade on the map.''
The publicity boost could curb the falling number of visitors to the festival, which has been plagued with wet weather.
Floriade event manager Matthew Elkins said the poor weather had affected day to day numbers, but should not affect the overall figures.
''Numbers seem to even themselves out,'' he said.
There were good crowds at the event yesterday, where 21-year-old Alice Plumb won the local heat of the Road to Discovery country music competition.