Poignant: Queen’s rose moment
0 The Queen has marked what would have been the Duke of Edinburgh's 100th birthday with the planting in Windsor Castle of a new rose named after her late husband, a gift from the Royal Horticultural Society
The Queen has marked what would have been the Duke of Edinburgh’s 100th birthday with the planting of a newly-bred rose named after her beloved late husband.
The monarch received the poignant gift from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and watched it placed in the Windsor Castle gardens last week to commemorate Philip’s centenary on Thursday.
The Queen described the Duke of Edinburgh Rose, which is deep pink, dappled with white lines and double flowered, as “lovely” and the tribute as “very kind”.
The Queen smiled as she accepted the small rose bush, wrapped in brown paper and twine, from RHS president Keith Weed.
A year ago, the monarch and Philip were photographed together in the castle’s quadrangle to mark the duke’s 99th birthday, but he died just nine weeks before he was due to turn 100.
Mr Weed told the Queen: “It’s a rose named the Duke of Edinburgh Rose to mark his centenary and it’s a commemorative rose for all the marvellous things that he did over his lifetime and for everyone to remember so much that he did.
“Each rose, there’s a donation that goes to the Living Legacy Fund which will help more children. It’s a beautiful flower in itself, a double flower.”
The Queen said: “It looks lovely.”
The Duke of Edinburgh Rose was newly bred following Philip’s death on April 9 by Harkness Roses, which has been breeding and growing British roses since 1879.
For every rose sold, the firm will donate £2.50 to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Living Legacy Fund, which will help one million more young people from all backgrounds and circumstances take part in the youth award scheme set up by Philip in 1956.
Mr Weed added of the rose: “Right now, with a cold spring and nature being a little bit behind, it doesn’t look so lovely there but that’s what it looks like. The picture says it all.”
The Queen replied: “Well that’s very kind.”
Looking at the label, the Queen also saw it features a small profile photograph of a smiling Philip wearing a white panama hat.
The monarch watched as the tiny shrub bush – which will grow to around 70cm tall – was rehomed by Windsor’s head gardener Philip Carter in the front of the castle’s mixed rose border of the East Terrace Garden, amid more mature specimens and purple alliums, as a permanent reminder of the duke.
The duke was instrumental in redesigning the layout of the East Terrace Garden and also commissioned the bronze lotus fountain at the centre.
The Queen remarked on seeing there was a “hole already” made for the rose, and chuckled in agreement when told Mr Carter had done a lovely job with the borders.
The monarch chatted to the appropriately-named Mr Weed about the flowers at the royal residence and authoritatively shared her knowledge of her garden.
She re marked how the blooms were not fully out because of the cold weather in May. “As you can see, nothing has flowered here much,” she said.
The Duke of Edinburgh Rose is described as having a delicate fragrance, and its flowers will develop in large clusters on long stems, deemed perfect for vase displays.
It is available to buy online, potted for £14.99, potted and gift wrapped for £18.74, or in a Gardeners Pack for £60.