The special meaning behind Queen Elizabeth’s favourite flower

The Queen has revealed her favourite flower for the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show this year.

In honour of the first day of the show, which was moved online this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the monarch shared that one of her favourite blooms was lily of the valley.

“Members of the Royal Family are taking part in the #MyChelseaGarden campaign, sharing a selection of their favourite plants and flowers at this time of year,” an Instagram post on the Royal Family account read.

“The Queen has chosen lily of the valley, pictured here in the Buckingham Palace gardens. Lily of the valley featured in Her Majesty’s coronation bouquet and has held special associations since.”

View this post on Instagram

On the first day of the virtual Chelsea Flower Show, members of the Royal Family are taking part in the #MyChelseaGarden campaign, sharing a selection of their favourite plants and flowers at this time of year. 🌿🌸 . As this year's show coincides with #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, @the_rhs are encouraging people to brighten their social media feeds with images of plants and gardens, to provide a moment of respite in these challenging times. The Queen has chosen lily of the valley, pictured here in the Buckingham Palace gardens. Lily of the valley featured in Her Majesty’s coronation bouquet and has held special associations since. Visit our website to see #MyChelseaGarden images shared by other members of the Royal Family (link in bio). . #MyChelseaGarden #VirtualChelsea #RHSChelsea

A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily) on May 18, 2020 at 7:19am PDT

New York City mocked for only just discovering wheelie bins

The spring flower is the May birth flower, and is said to bring luck in love.

The white buds were also featured in the wedding bouquets of many royals, including Queen Victoria, Princess Astrid of Sweden, Grace Kelly, and Duchess Kate.

Other royals also shared their favourite flowers on the Royal Family website. The Queen’s daughter Princess Anne opted for hellebores, stating: “Not only do they flower early but they keep flowering for two months, and they are often beautifully marked with endless variations.”

Plastic Free July is a waste of time if the onus is only on consumers

Prince Charles picked delphiniums, while his wife Duchess Camilla chose Alchemilla Mollis. The Duke of Gloucester celebrated daisies, and his wife the Duchess of Gloucester chose sweet peas.

Her Majesty’s cousin Princess Alexandra picked the Golden Celebration rose, saying it “gives me great pleasure to look at and has the most extraordinary and unique scent”.

The Queen released a special message of support for the show on Monday.

View this post on Instagram

The Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show is moving online for the first time. 🌸💻 . Visit @the_rhs for a unique timetable of events from Monday 18th to Saturday 23rd May, including gardening advice and virtual sessions. The RHS have been supporting gardeners old and new, with more people than ever accessing the advice pages on their website over recent weeks. Her Majesty has been Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society since 1952 - she first attended the show as Monarch in 1955, and has visited almost every year since. The Queen has today sent her best wishes to all those associated with the RHS: ‘My family and I have always enjoyed visiting the Show, and I know that your Members and Supporters will be disappointed that they are unable to attend in person this year. . ‘I am sure that my grandmother, Queen Mary, who first attended the Chelsea Flower Show in 1916, would be delighted that many people today have an enthusiasm for horticulture, and that gardening remains a popular pastime in the United Kingdom.’ . #RHSChelsea #VirtualChelsea #ChelseaFlowerShow Images: ©️ @the_rhs Lindley Library

A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily) on May 18, 2020 at 3:32am PDT

“I am sure that my grandmother, Queen Mary, who first attended the Chelsea Flower Show in 1916, would be delighted that many people today have an enthusiasm for horticulture, and that gardening remains a popular pastime in the United Kingdom,” she said.