Oprah Winfrey's US television interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has sparked controversy and discussion across the nation.
But it was the setting that caught the eyes of many viewers, who were more interested in the calming and serene California garden setting than the content of the interview.
Hayes Garden World expert, Angela Slater, has analysed Prince Harry and Meghan's garden scene and explains how to achieve a similar rustic setting.
Paving stones
The first consideration when planning outdoor living space is what to put on the floor? Reclaimed brick-style pavers give the feel of age and a sense that the space has served a purpose for many years. There are masses of flooring styles from painted concrete, tiles made from recycled tyres and wooden floorboards to porcelain tiles are available.
Rugs
A dedicated outdoor rug can add a touch of softness and make the outdoors more like an extension of indoor living space rather than a separate space. If you have elderly relatives or children running around make sure the rug is absolutely flat and not curling at the corners. Tripping over the rug is one of the commonest causes of household accidents.
Casual seating
There is a huge variation of outdoor garden seating available to suit both classic English garden styles and the contemporary urban chic outdoor living space.
Garden furniture available nowadays is constructed from the best quality materials which makes it very long-lasting with virtually no maintenance. Resin weave furniture is still extremely popular and maintenance-free suiting both a modern outdoor living space and a traditional English garden.
Columns with vines
Columns help give the feel of a classic yet modern Mediterranean garden.
Achieve a similar effect with a standard pergola from your local garden centre. Plant with climbing roses or honeysuckle for a traditional English garden or for a Mediterranean feel, opt for ornamental golden hop, grapevines or the deliciously scented Star Jasmine.
Lawn area
If you have children a distinctive play area is essential, particularly important is to surround the area with tough plants which can easily recover from a few footballs. A lawn is a great surface for children as it provides a fairly soft landing and if incorporated as part of the garden scheme it can be within sight of the adult seating area.
Relaxed planting
A soft informal planting scheme is restful on the eye and provides a boundary to the seating area. Have a mixture of climbers, tall shrubs, mid-level and low sprawling plants. Scented plants such as lavender, rosemary and thyme surrounding the seating area give off a calming de-stressing aroma at the end of the day.
Coffee table
A coffee table is an essential for glasses, coffee cups, books, tablets, phones and other paraphernalia and adding a small plant just reinforces the sense of the area being a room and an extension of the house.
Grouping pots and containers
Even if you don’t have a growing area you can still have the feel of a garden by grouping together clusters of containers. Planters can be used to just define the edges of the seating area and further enhance the feeling that it is another intimate separate room.
