It was a day filled with personal touches, from the rendition of the late Princess Diana’s favorite hymn to a stirring performance of Stand By Me from a gospel choir.
However the wedding of Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also included one very touching contribution from the groom himself.
The royal, who is sixth-in-line to the British throne, handpicked some of the blooms used in the new Duchess of Sussex’s delicate bouquet, selecting the stems from the couple’s home in Kensington Palace.
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The now-titled Duke of Sussex picked the flowers on May 18, the day before the nuptials, and passed them on to florist Philippa Craddock, who crafted the bespoke arrangement.
“Prince Harry handpicked several flowers from their private garden,” Kensington Palace revealed.
Photo: REX/Shutterstock.
The bride paired the dainty blossoms with her couture bridal gown by Givenchy, while the accompanying gossamer-thin veil was embroidered with the flora and fauna of all 53 Commonwealth nations.
The bouquet itself also contained another subtle tribute; the inclusion of forget-me-nots, the favorite flowers of Diana, Princess of Wales. The couple intentionally chose the spring blooms to honor the late mother of Prince Harry.
The petite design, which also included scented sweet peas, sprigs of myrtle, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia, was on Sunday sent to Westminster Abbey, where it will rest on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior until it wilts.
The tradition of royal brides sending their bouquet to the tomb was started by the-then Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (now known as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother).
The Queen Mother made the gesture to remember her brother, who died in World War I, and others royals, including the Duchess of Cambridge, have since followed in her footsteps.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s remaining flowers from their wedding day have been donated to hospices and women’s refuges in the UK.
Blooms used in the displays lining the entranceway of St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle, included white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves picked from the Crown Estate.
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