Meghan's bouquet laid on grave at Westminster Abbey

ITN

Following a royal tradition, the bridal bouquet Meghan Markle carried down the aisle when she married Prince Harry has been placed on the tomb of the unknown warrior in Westminster Abbey.

The Duchess of Sussex has followed the poignant royal tradition of having her wedding bouquet left at the grave of the Unknown Warrior.

The resting place at Westminster Abbey holds the remains of a First World War soldier who has come to symbolise the nation's war dead.

In 1923, the late Queen Mother began the long-standing tradition when her posy was left at the grave following her wedding to the Duke of York, later George VI.

Meghan Markle's wedding bouquet is laid on the grave of the Unknown Warrior in the west nave of Westminster Abbey, London.
PA/AP

Meghan Markle's wedding bouquet is laid on the grave of the Unknown Warrior in the west nave of Westminster Abbey, London.

She left the flowers in memory of her brother Fergus, who was killed in 1915 during the conflict.


 

Convention dictates that the day after royal weddings the floral tribute is sent to the Abbey once the official wedding pictures of the bride and groom have been taken.

ITN

Flowers adorned outside and inside of St George's Chapel where Prince Harry married Meghan Markle.

Meghan's bridal bouquet which has been tied with a delicate pink ribbon, and includes scented sweet peas, as well as jasmine and lily of the valley, has been placed at the bottom of the grave, and will stay in place until it wilts.

The Duke of Sussex and his new bride remembered the late Diana, Princess of Wales, at their wedding by also selecting forget-me-nots, her favourite flowers, for the bouquet.

Harry also contributed by hand-picking several flowers from their private garden at Kensington Palace a day ahead of Saturday's wedding, the palace said.

Myrtle sprigs from stems planted at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight by Queen Victoria in 1845 also featured, furthering another long-standing tradition.

Sprigs were also used from a plant grown from the myrtle in the Queen's wedding bouquet in 1947.

Meanwhile the beautiful flowers that graced the royal wedding have been shared out to different charities.

Floral designer Phillippa Craddock directed a team, including florists from St George's Chapel and Buckingham Palace, to create the wedding displays at St George's Chapel and for St George's Hall in Windsor.

Kensington Palace has said the floral displays in St George's Chapel were created using locally sourced foliage, much of which was taken from the gardens and parkland of The Crown Estate and Windsor Great Park.

These included branches of beech, birch and hornbeam, as well as white garden roses, peonies and foxgloves.