Cheralyn Darcey The flowers Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have chosen to symbolize and support their union at their May 19th wedding have been revealed and along with a commitment to sustainability, each plant holds deeply thoughtful meaning as well as great beauty according to The Language of Flowers This botanical code has been used since time began by people throughout history, across cultures and lands to bring deeper meaning and even change the feelings and energy of events, places and the people involved but most of all, this language enables us to express what we deeply feel and symbolise what we hope for. London based floral designer Philippa Craddock has been asked to create the botanical displays and manage a team of florists at the upcoming royal wedding and in keeping with the wishes of the happy and caring couple, will source seasonal blooms and foliage locally where possible. Most are expected to be collected from the gardens of The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park and all hold deep personal meanings according to The Language of Flowers. Ms Craddock, has indicated that the choice in flowers to celebrate the royal wedding will be the ultimate representation of the couple’s relationship and with that in mind, flower expert, Australian florist and author of ‘Flowerpaedia, 1,000 flowers and their meanings’ explores the meanings of the flowers Meghan may carry when she marries Prince Harry. It is believed the wedding flowers will be Peonies, White Garden Roses and Foxgloves, supported by the foliage of Beech, Birch, and Hornbeam. British royal brides traditionally also carry a sprig of Myrtle in their bouquet from a bush planted by Queen Victoria at Osbourne House. There is also suggestion that the bouquet may contain Lily of the Valley as it is a favourite English Wildflower and Meghan’s soon to be sister-in-law paid tribute to William and Harry’s mother with the inclusion of this flower in her own wedding bouquet. The Royal Parks have also been asked to assist with pollinator-friendly wildflowers from local meadows, which can be weaved into the main designs. The Royal Wedding Language of Flowers The Peony Language Flowers It is no secret that Meghan adores Peonies. These romantic, soft blossoms featured constantly on her social feeds and blog along with divine bouquets from her, then mystery love interest, and so it is no surprise that these have been chosen for the day. Peonies, (Paeonia officinalis), will be in season and along with the personal symbolism of the couples courtship, they mean a happy marriage, honour, romance, prosperity, compassion and health. Peonies can ensure your marriage is not only happy but also that you will both enjoy long, happy and prosperous lives. The White Rose Language of Flowers Perhaps chosen as they featured in the bouquet of Princess Diana, Harry’s mother, beautifully fragranced White Roses are a natural choice for many brides. Red Rose is the national flower of the United States and so the white variety could be a subtle nod to Meghan’s homeland. White Rose, (Rosa), traditionally mean truth, purity, innocence and protection and are a popular choice for brides the world over because of this. Along with their enduring beauty and promise of truth and protection, they are also in keeping with Meghan’s desire to source locally as they grow in abundance in the gardens her florist has indicated they are sourcing most of her flowers from. The Foxglove Language of Flowers An interesting choice is Foxglove but understandable as it is one of the most beloved of English wildflowers. This plant is the source of the drug digitalis and helps calm and regulate the heartbeat. Foxglove, (Digitalis purpurea), mean confidence, communication, creativity, youth and magic but most importantly they say “I believe in you” and would be a strong and lovely message for any bride to carry in their bouquet. Foxglove helps those in their surrounds communicate clearly, from the heart but always with kindness. They also have the ability to calm young children, perhaps handy if your young wedding attendants are highly spirited on the big day. The Lily of the Valley Language of Flowers Beautifully fragrant, native woodland flowers, Lily of the Valley are a very popular English bridal flower and they were also included in Princess Kate’s bouquet as a tribute to William and Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana. Lily of the Valley, (Convallaria majalis), mean happiness, innocence, calm, humility and life purpose. The union of Meghan and prince Harry has already shown us their determination to live purposeful lives and so this flower would be not only honouring Harry’s mother but would indicate their shared values. Lily of the Valley has a very calming and grounding effect and is a wonderful addition to high profile events to bring a little humility and will draw your attention to the smaller, important moments. The Hornbeam Language of Flowers Foliage from the southern woodland UK native Hornbeam tree has been indicated as being used. A herbal folk medicine and a flower essence created from Hornbeam are thought to alleviate tiredness. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) mean alertness, strength, immortality and ornamentation with later being one of the popular meanings according to The Victorian Language of Flowers. This was a system of exchanging secret messages among friends and lovers via bouquets of flowers. Hornbeam as a wedding inclusion would help those with especially long wedding day celebrations to attend to, such as Meghan and Prince Harry, endure with vitality and still look their best. The Beech Language of Flowers Beech, considered the Queen of British trees, is another woodland English plant selected and interestingly, is often confused with Hornbeam as it can have a similar appearance. Beech trees can live for hundreds of years with some stands surviving for well over a thousand years. Beech, (Fagus sylvatica), mean prosperity, learning, knowledge, understand and protection. A beautiful ancient sentment often associated with Beech is, “The Halcyon days of our love are at hand”, and so would make the foliage of this special tree very apt at any wedding. The Birch Language of Flowers Another woodland native of the UK, Birch also improves the soil quality where it is growing. Birch, (Betula), means renewal, protection and courage and assists in banishing fear. It is also greatly revered in Scottish and English folklore as a symbol of love and fertility. The traditional broom or besom created from birch twigs, was used in ceremonies to drive out the negativity of the old year (or old time) to make way for the new. Along with the meanings of Birch, the foliage in a wedding celebration would assist in calming any last minute fears as well as symbolise a great love. The Myrtle Language of Flowers As mentioned, this is a traditional flower tucked into the bouquets of most British royal brides. When Kate Middleton married Prince William, Duke of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey, she observed this tradition, as did Princess Diana when she married Harry’s father, Prince Charles. Myrtle, (Myrtus), means love, hope, marriage, immortality and actually say “Will You Marry Me?” and perhaps this is a sweet sentiment to convey in a bouquet on your wedding day. Including Myrtle in your bouquet or wedding arrangements would be a great symbol of love and commitment to your future together. Meghan and Prince Harry are arranging to have their floral decorations sent along to local charitable organizations. Traditionally the bouquets of British Royal brides are laid on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior inside Westminster Abby. This follows the example set by the Queen Mother in 1923 when she honored her brother Fergus who lost his life in World War I in this way. Cheralyn Darcey is the author of Flowerpaedia, 1,000 flowers and their meanings (Rockpool Publishing) available at book stores and from online booksellers. She is an environmental artist, flower therapist and teacher who has had a lifelong connection with the spiritual and healing properties of plants. For the last thirty years, her art has been featured in workshops, exhibitions, art prizes and publications internationally. She was also a selected Environmental Artist in Residence at the International Environment Convention in 2011 and an Artist in Residence during the Year of Biodiversity, as well as presenting at the Australian Museum. Her other publications include the Australian Wildflower Reading Cards, Flower Reading Cards, and Florasphere Calm/ Florasphere Inspired coloring books. |
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