The touching handwritten message from the King to his late mother has been revealed as her coffin is carried through the streets of London. Thousands of people lined the streets to mourn Queen Elizabeth II as her funeral procession travelled through the city. The coffin of Britain's longest-serving monarch was adorned with a beautiful wreath of flowers and a card as well as the Imperial State Crown.
At the King's request, the wreath contains flowers and foliage cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House, all placed upon the Royal standard flag. As well as the wreath, a handwritten card was placed upon the coffin which King Charles and Her Majesty's other children walked behind as the Queen made her final journey through London.
As part of the BBC's coverage of the funeral, Welsh presenter Huw Edwards informed the millions of people watching at home of the personal message the King had left to his mother on the card.
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He said: "That magnificent wreath which bears a simply worded card from the King saying “In loving and devoted memory, Charles R”. As well as the simple sensitivity in the message to the late Queen, the King also had a say in the choice of flowers included in the wreath, with symbolism behind each one.
Flowers and foliage included in the wreath for its symbolism include:
- Rosemary for remembrance; Myrtle, the ancient symbol of a happy marriage, and cut from a plant that was grown from a sprig of myrtle in Her Late Majesty's wedding bouquet in 1947;
- English oak, which symbolises the strength of love;
- Scented pelargoniums; garden roses; autumnal hydrangea; sedum; dahlias; and scabious, all in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, to reflect the Royal Standard, on which it sits.
- Again at His Majesty's request, the wreath is made in a totally sustainable way, in a nest of English moss and oak branches, and without the use of floral foam.
The wreath will be buried with the Queen at Windsor. It contains plants from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House.
It comes as a team of nearly 100 Royal Navy sailors carried Her Majesty's coffin for the service, which was attended by all members of the Royal family and leaders from around the world. After the funeral, the King and members of his family will walk behind the Queen’s coffin to Wellington Arch before it is driven to Windsor in the state hearse.
On arriving in Windsor, there will be a committal service attended by around 800 people including personal staff who work, or who have worked, on the private estates.
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