The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit new Glade of Light memorial in Manchester
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the opening of the Glade of Light memorial yesterday (10 May), in remembrance of those who lost their lives or were affected by the 2017 tragedy at Manchester Arena.
Prince William and Kate arrived in Manchester for the official opening of the new garden, the Glade of Light, which was designed to serve as a “living memorial, a tranquil garden space for remembrance and reflection," according to Manchester City Council.
Photographs of the visit and the garden were shared to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official social media, in which Prince William said that, “There is comfort in remembering. In acknowledging that, while taken horribly soon, they lived. They changed our lives. They were loved, and they are loved.”
He added that this was why such memorial spaces like the Glade of Light are so important, and why, “Catherine and I so wanted to be here today.”
The Duchess paid subtle tribute to the city by wearing earrings featuring bees, an emblem of Manchester which has become a sign of unity.
The garden sits in the city’s Medieval Quarter and was designed in consultation with the families affected.
A key feature of the memorial is a white marble "halo" ring which features the names of those who lost their lives. Inside the stone are memory capsules for each person as a moving and lasting tribute to their lives.
The plants within the garden are all grown naturally in the UK and are designed to, “reflect the changing seasons while providing colour and maximising light all year round,” according to Manchester City Council.
You can find out more about the Glade of Light on the council’s dedicated webpage.
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