Royal Wedding: No Flowers On Church Altar

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding flowers inside St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle were designed by Philippa Craddock. The flowers included white garden roses, peonies, and foxgloves, as well as branches of beech, birch, and hornbeam. The flowers were donated to St. Joseph's Hospice in London and repurposed into bouquets for hospice residents. Markle's bouquet, however, was laid upon the grave of the unknown warrior in Westminster Abbey, in honour of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana, who loved white roses.

The flowers were donated to St. Joseph's Hospice in London

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor. The flowers from the royal wedding were donated to St. Joseph's Hospice in Hackney, London. The flowers were designed by Philippa Craddock and included white garden roses, peonies, and foxgloves, as well as branches of beech, birch, and hornbeam. These flowers were repurposed and hand-tied into bouquets for the hospice residents.

The hospice expressed their honour and gratitude for the gift, and the patients were thrilled to receive the bouquets. One resident, Pauline Clayton, was especially excited. At 19, she had worked for the royal dressmaker Norman Hartnell and helped to embroider Queen Elizabeth II's wedding dress train. With her royal connection, she found it a lovely coincidence to be at St Joseph's, receiving these wedding flowers.

The donation of the flowers reflected Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's commitment to sustainability. The couple had specifically requested that, instead of sending wedding gifts, people should donate to charitable organisations. This gesture of donating the flowers to the hospice extended their commitment to sustainability and also brought joy to the residents of St. Joseph's Hospice.

The flowers were designed by Philippa Craddock

The flowers for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were designed by Philippa Craddock, a society favourite named "Queen of London florists" by British Vogue and "a floral mastermind" by Tatler. Craddock is a self-taught florist who started her business after the birth of her first child. She owns a flower shop in Selfridges and has been working as a florist for nine years.

Craddock said she was excited and honoured to have been chosen by the couple to design their wedding flowers. She described the process as highly collaborative, free-flowing, creative and fun, and that the final designs would represent the couple, which she always aims to achieve in her work. Craddock also emphasised the importance of local sourcing, seasonality, and sustainability in her work.

The flowers for the wedding included white garden roses, peonies, and foxgloves, as well as branches of beech, birch, and hornbeam. The designs reflected the wild and natural landscapes from which the plants were drawn. The arrangements were created using local foliage, taken from the gardens and parkland of The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park.

In addition to the flowers, Craddock also created a display of pollinator-friendly plants from wildflower meadows, which provided a habitat for bees and helped to nurture and sustain ecosystems. After the wedding, the flowers were distributed to charitable organisations, and the plants were potted and replanted.

The flowers were white, including white peonies and roses

The flowers at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding were designed by Philippa Craddock, a self-taught London-based florist. The flowers were white, including white peonies, garden roses, and foxgloves, as well as branches of beech, birch, and hornbeam. The choice of white peonies was a special one for Meghan, who had previously posted a photo of a bouquet of pink and white peonies on her Instagram account with the caption, "I bought these peonies for myself yesterday because they make me so endlessly happy." Meghan also revealed in 2014 that her mother, Doria, had always called her "Flower," adding that it was her nickname "since I was a little girl."

The flowers were used to create displays at St. George's Chapel and St. George's Hall, where the wedding ceremony and reception took place. The floral arrangements included two large displays that sat on either side of the High Altar in the Windsor Castle chapel. The displays also extended outside the chapel, lining the West Steps and surrounding the West Door, through which Meghan entered the church.

The flowers were chosen not only for their beauty but also for their sustainability. Craddock and her team used locally sourced foliage, including branches from the gardens of the Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park. They also prioritised using flowers and plants that were in season and blooming naturally in May, the month of the wedding. This commitment to sustainability extended beyond the wedding day, as the couple arranged for the flowers to be distributed to charitable organisations afterward.

The choice of flowers also held personal significance for Prince Harry, as white garden roses were a favourite of his late mother, Princess Diana. The floral displays served as a tribute to her, with a central arch of flowers framing the royal couple as they exchanged their vows.

The flowers were repurposed into bouquets for hospice residents

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a star-studded affair, with a gospel choir, a ceremony officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and a gospel choir. The flowers at the wedding were designed by Philippa Craddock, who has worked with Kensington Palace, British Vogue, and fashion houses Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior. The flowers were sourced locally and seasonally, and were designed to evoke the natural landscapes from which they were gathered.

> "Today we got a very special delivery. Beautiful bouquets made from the #royalwedding flowers which we gave to our patients. A big thank you to Harry and Meghan and florist Philippa Craddock. Our hospice smells and looks gorgeous. Such a lovely gesture."

Nigel Harding, chief executive of the hospice, also shared his gratitude:

> "The flowers are simply stunning and our patients were both surprised and delighted to receive them. A huge thank you to Philippa Craddock and her team—and, of course, to the Royal bride and groom."

The flowers were especially meaningful as they included white garden roses, which were a favourite of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana. Meghan's bouquet also included forget-me-nots, another of Diana's favourite flowers.

The flowers were from the gardens and parklands of The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park

The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was a highly anticipated event, with the flowers used in the ceremony and decorations playing a significant role. The flowers were sourced from the gardens and parklands of The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park, adding a touch of natural beauty to the occasion.

The floral designer, Philippa Craddock, created stunning arrangements with white garden roses, peonies, and foxgloves, as well as branches of beech, birch, and hornbeam. These blooms were chosen not only for their beauty but also for their sustainability and local sourcing. Craddock described the process of creating the floral displays as "highly collaborative, free-flowing, creative, and fun," aiming to represent the couple in her work.

The flowers held special significance, with white garden roses being a favourite of Prince Harry's late mother, Princess Diana. Meghan's bouquet also included forget-me-nots, another flower associated with Princess Diana. The floral tribute to Diana extended beyond the choice of flowers, as the displays were crafted to frame the royal couple during their ceremony.

The flowers were carefully selected to evoke the natural landscapes from which they were gathered, creating a cohesive and elegant atmosphere for the wedding. In addition to their aesthetic value, the flowers were also used to promote sustainability. After the wedding, the flowers were donated to St. Joseph's Hospice in London, where they were repurposed into bouquets for hospice residents, bringing joy and surprise to the patients.

Overall, the flowers from the gardens and parklands of The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park played a crucial role in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, honouring tradition, paying tribute to loved ones, and spreading happiness beyond the royal couple and their guests.

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