The wreath laid on top of the Queen’s coffin for her state funeral was made up of flowers chosen especially for their significance and taken from the gardens of three Royal palaces. It included myrtle – which was used in the Queen’s wedding bouquet, as is royal tradition.
Cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House, the flowers and foliage have been chosen for their symbolism by King Charles. They included rosemary, for remembrance, and myrtle cut from a plant which was grown from a sprig of myrtle in the Queen’s wedding bouquet. Also included were English oak to symbolise the strength of love, pelargoniums, garden roses, autumnal hydrangea, sedum, dahlias and scabious. These are in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, to reflect the Royal Standard.
The wreath is made of sustainable English moss and oak branches, and the King requested floral foam was not used. The Queen’s favourite flower was Lily of the Valley, but it is not in season at the moment.
According to Nicola Paul, floral stylist at Paradise Blooms: “Pelargoniums or geraniums are symbolic of good health, happiness and symbolise positivity. Scabious is a popular wedding flower as it symbolises pure love and peace.”
Meanwhile, Stuckes says the display includes “pink roses which represent gratitude, love and appreciation – all things the country feels towards the Queen”.
She continues: “The colourfulness of the arrangement – rather than just traditional white – is representative of the Queen’s love of wearing colour and is joyful rather than sad. There’s also sedum which represents peace and tranquillity, a lovely choice for a funeral.”
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The huge white and green displays of blooms in the Abbey also featured asiatic lilies, gladioli, alstroemeria, eustoma and foliage of English oak and weeping birch.
According to founder of sustainable British florist Flowers by Imogen, Imogen Stuckes, “Myrtle is traditionally used in royal arrangements as it is a symbol of royalty itself, as well as prosperity and love. Lilies are traditionally used at funerals throughout Britain as a symbol of rebirth, purity and sympathy. They also represent devotion, which could represent the Queen’s devotion to her country.
“Gladioli symbolise remembrance, and so are a traditional funeral flower too. They also represent faithfulness, strength and pride, all things that the Queen brought to our country. Alstroemeria symbolise friendship, and many would feel that the Queen was a friend to all. Eustoma represent appreciation and gratitude – something I’m sure many people would like to show for the Queen today – as well as charisma, charm and confidence, which are a lovely nod to the Queen’s personality.”
And she continued: “English Oak is one of our national emblems, and represents strength, wisdom and endurance, all representative of the Queen’s time serving her country. Birch symbolises rebirth and new beginnings, as we begin a new era today without our Queen.”
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