Every royal bridal bouquet features this one flower
When Queen Elizabeth II married the Duke of Edinburgh on 20 November 1947, her bridal bouquet contained white orchids and a sprig of myrtle.
Including myrtle in the wedding bouquet is a practice that was started by Queen Victoria and has been continued ever since. The tradition is upheld by taking a cutting of the bush that was grown from the sprig in Queen Victoria’s very own bouquet.
Besides the royal significance of myrtle, it is also the emblem of love and marriage.
The Queen also had Westminster Abbey decorated with white lilies, chrysanthemums, carnations, roses, camellia and ivy. For the reception at Buckingham Palace, the tables were decorated with vases of pink and white carnations.
Duchess Kate also included a sprig of myrtle in her bouquet along with lily of the valley, hyacinths, ivy and Sweet William, as a tribute to her groom.
Impressively, the flowers in the lace of Kate’s wedding dress paid tribute to the four countries that make up the UK. The roses represented England, thistles for Scotland, daffodils for Wales and shamrocks for Northern Island.
Scroll through the gallery above to see royal bridal bouquets of the past.