Harry and Meghan's wedding flowers were turned into bouquets for hospice patients
On Saturday (May 19) St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle looked spectacular for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The castle itself was decorated with beautiful flowers that made the venue look even more breathtaking. However, once the wedding was over, they were used for a very special purpose- to make bouquets for hospice patients.
The flowers were sent to St. Joseph’s Hospice in London. The healthcare facility took to Facebook to share the news about the special gift they had received. Accompanying their announcement was a photo of a patient with her arms full of the flowers.
The couple had a very special meaning attached to the flowers they chose for the venue. Harry, who had always been close to his late mother, Princess Diana, wanted to make sure that the wedding reflected parts of her life. As a special tribute to her, Harry, Duke of Sussex, chose white garden roses that are also believed to be one of the favorites of Diana. At the same time, Meghan's bouquet also held special meaning. The bouquet was filled with Forget-Me-Nots (Princess Diana’s favorite flower), scented sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia, and sprigs of myrtle. Traditionally, in a royal wedding custom dating back to Princess Victoria, royal brides typically carry at least one sprig of myrtle in their bouquets. Myrtle symbolizes hope and love.
The flowers were handpicked by Harry from the gardens at Kensington Palace. Per Kensington Palace, florist Philippa Craddock used plants and flowers that are in season and blooming naturally around the time of May 19. The wedding arrangements also included branches of beech, birch, and hornbeam as well as foxgloves and peonies. According to People, the floral decorations for the wedding were designed by the florist for the chapel as well as St. George’s Hall, where a lunch reception was held.
“I am excited and honored to have been chosen by Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle to create and design their wedding flowers,” she said. “Working with them has been an absolute pleasure. The process has been highly collaborative, free-flowing, creative and fun. The final designs will represent them as a couple, which I always aim to achieve in my work, with local sourcing, seasonality, and sustainability being at the forefront.”