A BLOOMING GOOD DAY OUT THE QUEEN REVISITS HER CORONATION BEFORE SWAPPING MEMORIES OF HER FATHER

A little over a month after she was crowned in Westminster Abbey, the Queen was able to say “thank you” in person to the man responsible for the day’s stunning floral arrangements.

- EMILY NASH

Her Majesty met Shane Connolly at the Garden Museum in London while opening the annual British Flowers Week exhibition. The florist created the spectacular display of British-grown flowers and foliage that adorned the altar and other parts of the abbey, using only sustainably grown blooms at the request of Their Majesties.

After Shane presented her with a bouquet of hand-tied flowers picked from his own garden, Camilla gave him a gift – a photograph of her with the King – as a token of her appreciation.

“It’s just a very small present for the wonderful job you did at the coronation,” she said. “They were so beautiful. I didn’t have a lot of chance to look at them [on the day], but have studied them very carefully since and they were absolutely wonderful, especially around the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

“That was just absolutely perfect. This is just a small thank-you from me.”

NATURE’S WONDERS 

Delivering a speech to his fellow guests, Shane said: “Your Majesties’ support of British-grown flowers has never faltered. As gardeners, you also appreciate the vagaries of using them; the exciting unpredictability and the happy surprises that result.