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The touching way the royal wedding flowers have been recycled

The floral arrangements that framed the entrance to St. George’s Chapel stole the show. [Photo: Getty]
The floral arrangements that framed the entrance to St. George’s Chapel stole the show. [Photo: Getty]

The stunning floral display at the entrance of St. George’s Chapel framed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife on Saturday, in what will be some of the most iconic photos in history.

But what happened to the beautiful arrangement when the royal wedding was over?

Well, in true Harry and Meghan style, they didn’t go to waste and instead were used in a lovely gesture.

On Sunday, a number of charities received a special delivery: bouquets of the flowers used in the wedding.

The bouquets included the white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves – designed by floral designer Phillippa Craddock and her team – which decked out the Chapel.

Included in the gesture was St. Joseph’s Hospice in London, where patients were handed out the stunning gifts.

“A big thank you to Harry and Meghan and florist Philippa Craddock,” St. Joseph’s wrote on Facebook. “Our hospice smells and looks gorgeous. Such a lovely gesture.”

St Joseph’s Hospice patients received a very special delivery the day after the wedding. [Photo: Facebook]
St Joseph’s Hospice patients received a very special delivery the day after the wedding. [Photo: Facebook]

In April it was revealed that Phillippa Craddock would be taking on the coveted job on designing the flower show surrounding the nuptials.

Craddock directed a team of florists including florists from St George’s Chapel and Buckingham Palace to create her displays.

Kensington Palace has explained the displays were created using locally sourced foliage, much of which was taken from the parkland and garden of Windsor Great Park and The Crown Estate.

These included white garden roses – Princess Diana‘s favourite – peonies, foxgloves and branches of beech, birch and hornbeam.

In keeping with tradition, Meghan’s bridal bouquet – which included scented sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia, sprigs of myrtl and another favourite of her late mother-in-law, forget-me-nots – was laid on the grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey.

The grave holds the remains of an anonymous <span>First World War soldier. [Photo: Getty]</span>
The grave holds the remains of an anonymous First World War soldier. [Photo: Getty]

The tradition dates back to 1923 when the late Queen Mother left her posy on the same grave following her wedding to the Duke of York, later George VI.

The grave, which holds the remains of an anonymous First World War soldier, is meant to symbolise the nation’s many war dead.

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