The wreath which sat on top of the coffin during the procession and service of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral featured flowers and foliage cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House at the request of King Charles III. A card in remembrance sat among the flowers, with the King’s goodbye message to his mother: ‘In loving and devoted memory. Charles R.’
Flowers
The wreath on the day of the funeral was quite a colourful contrast from the white and green wreath, which had adorned the coffin previously. This one featured shades of pink, deep burgundy and yellow. The flowers included different shades of pink garden roses, pink sedum, deep burgundy scabious, and scented pelargoniums.
Foliage
The foliage in the wreath, chosen for its symbolism, included myrtle, rosemary and oak. The myrtle was picked as an ‘ancient symbol’ of a happy marriage, according to Buckingham Palace. It was cut from a plant that was grown from a sprig of myrtle in Her late Majesty’s wedding bouquet in 1947.
Myrtle also featured in the Princess of Wales’s wedding bouquet in 2011. The wreath will also contain rosemary signifying remembrance and English oak, which symbolises the strength of love.
Environmentally Friendly
At the King’s request, the wreath was environmentally friendly, made in a totally sustainable way without floral foam. It featured a nest of English moss and oak branches.
I’d love to know your thoughts about Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral Flowers…
I loved the casket flowers, especially once I heard the flowers had been cut from the gardens of the palaces… seemed a pity there wasn’t something from balmoral included, but aside from that, it was even made more beautiful with the meaning behind it. Natural, garden style, beautiful and simple
One thing I was wondering though- the flowers at Westminster Abbey- the lilies in the big arrangements were closed? Do you know if there was a reason for that? Lilies are temperamental at the best of times, but if open lilies were needed, I’m sure no expense would have been spared, and they’d have been found somewhere, so it makes me think it was deliberate…