It's a busy month for the the Queen and her family. First, today is her true birthday (the "official" State occasion is celebrated in June with the Trooping of the Color - June has better weather in England apparently). Then, next week her favorite grandchild is getting married in the most celebrated wedding since 1981. Finally, and possibly most importantly, this Sunday is Easter Sunday. Which means that today the Queen has distributed the traditional Maundy Thursday purses to well deserving British subjects. This mornings ceremony, which was a tradition carried out as far back as King Henry VIII, took place at Westminster Abbey... possibly a test run for next Friday's wedding.
Of course when the Queen and other royals are about, there are flowers involved. In the above picture, the Queen, Prince Philip and the Dean of Westminster are seen carrying very sculpted and uniform nosegays. Very traditional are the doily collars backing the flowers. The flowers are composed mainly of freesias in purple, yellow and white. I will be doing some research into these bright and fragrant arrangements and try to find out their significance to Maunday Thursday.
Everyone have a great Easter!
Royal Wedding Tid-bit of the day... Kate Middleton has reportedly paid her respects to William's mother, Princess Diana. Reportedly, the couple, getting married in 8 days, paid a private visit to Diana's grave on the island located on the Altrop estate... and laid flowers at the grave.
Photo Credit: ABC World News, http://www.abc.com/, April 21, 2011.
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