Prince Harry Ensured Mother's Memory, Princess Diana Wedding Tributes
The absence of Prince Harry's late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, will have been felt heavily on his wedding day, but the groom found several sweet and poignant ways to pay tribute to her. Harry, who was just 12 when his mother died, added several sentimental touches to his wedding with Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel, Windsor.
Among them were the wedding flowers, installed by florist Philippa Craddock and her team. Arches of greenery and flowers were placed around the entrance to the chapel and inside, featuring white roses, which were one of Princess Diana's favourite flowers and were planted in her memory in the gardens of Kensington Palace last year.
Meanwhile, in a romantic touch, Prince Harry also picked flowers from the Kensington Palace gardens for his bride's bouquet. Among them were Forget-Me-Nots, another of Diana's favourite flowers, giving a subtle nod to her on his wedding day.
Prince Harry and his brother Prince William are said to have spoken of their mother while they sat in the chapel waiting for the ceremony to begin. Lip readers revealed that Prince William said: "Do you remember when mum used to say...?" To which Harry replied with a smile: "Yeah I know."
And much was made of the empty seat next to Prince William during the ceremony. While it is believed to be so that the Queen's view isn't obstructed, it was also suggested that it was for his mother.
The groom also asked Lady Jane Fellowes, Diana's sister, to give a reading during the ceremony to celebrate Diana's memory. The music too, was a tribute to his mother; Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer was also sung at Diana's funeral...More: https://us.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2018052048759/princess-diana-tributes-royal-wedding/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Last edited Mon May 21, 2018, 12:02 AM - Edit history (1)
- White Rose floral tribute to Princess Diana, St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
The breathtaking floral arches outside of St. George’s Chapel were envisioned by Philippa Craddock, Kensington Palace’s go-to floral designer. Meghan and Harry’s wedding decorations boast white garden roses, peonies, foxgloves, beech, birch and hornbeam, many of which are local and seasonal.
The heartwarming homage to Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana, rests in the white roses, a seasonal bloom that the princess adored. Philippa is also responsible for putting together Meghan’s bouquet, the bridesmaids’ personal flowers & the floral décor. https://ca.hellomagazine.com/royalty/02018051945147/royal-wedding-windsor-castle-flowers-princess-diana-tribute/
the pain she caused Diana was horrid.
Last edited Wed May 23, 2018, 02:48 PM - Edit history (3)
including an amazing turn of the tables. From some media and others it seems that Charles was basically a 'victim,' unfairly prevented from being with his true love and forced to marry Lady Diana Spencer. And that Charles suffered, but is finally united and content with his one soul mate at last. It's astonishing- how he was not responsible (for any misery); it was those royal marriage conventions to blame, (eg no divorced persons, must be virgins, etc.), and they're lessened now and everything's fine.
How times have changed, and the spin has steadily seeped into the media and people's brains, particularly since Diana is no longer here to speak on her own behalf or a living reminder, and her close associates are out of the picture.
The outcry after Princess Diana died on Aug. 31, 1997 from a car crash, on the road, in a tunnel in Paris rocked the entire British establishment. Newly freed from her previous official role, Diana had just turned 36, (like Meghan will this August) and was starting over with her new life after years of unhappiness and neglect from Charles and the royal family. Also the Queen who had said to Diana, "I don't know what to do about Charles!" when Diana went to her after William was born to seek some form of guidance and aid for her troubled, difficult marriage.
In the early grim hours and days of the tragedy, mass grief and national outpouring, the royal family delayed in returning from summer vacation in Scotland to London, where millions of stunned, bereft mourners were looking for signs of support from the monarchy, and they failed. In the following days and at the urging of those in charge who well knew the seriousness of the situation, the family finally came down and made appearances before thousands of mourners and mountains of flowers outside Buckingham Palace.
The entire world, particularly Diana's many supporters were closely watching the unfolding events. The decision to provide a formal memorial for Princess Diana was made, the funeral was organized and included were both the Windsor and Spencer families. When the ceremony took place, Charles and Philip, Charles Spencer, the brother of Diana, and young William and Harry were visibly prominent walking near the large crowds in slow, solemn cortege for Diana's funeral procession to Westminster Abbey. The service for Diana had been changed to an official state event that the public could view, instead of a private, closed Spencer family ceremony as initially thought by the royals because Diana was no longer a member of the royal family after divorce from Charles.
Over the next decade measures were taken to honor the beloved, deceased princess including several posthumous memorials and flower parks that were created around London; popular rock concerts for the public were held to help show the royals' goodwill and acknowledgement of the people; and the youthful, handsome Princes William and Harry made many public appearances.
Prior to Charles, in the generations just before him, there were at least two unhappy royal family members constrained by official 'rules' regarding marriage. Notably Edward Windsor in the 1930s who as King Edward VIII was unable to marry twice divorced, American Wallis Simpson. So Edward abdicated the throne on Dec. 11, 1936, married Simpson and the couple left England forever. There is also the Queens sister, Princess Margaret who in the 1950s tragically couldn't marry her love, Capt. Peter Townshend because he was a divorced man with children. Princess Margaret later married Anthony Armstrong-Jones, a union that also ended in divorce.
This was the time if not earlier, to consider eliminating antiquated marriage rules that caused many lasting detrimental effects on families, couples and children. Yet the rules continued into the next generation of Charles, and the marriages of three of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's children ended in divorce in the 1990s- including Charles, Anne and Andrew.
Finally, with changes to restrictive marriage rules and after much unhappiness, it's wonderful to see the new, 'sparkle' 
marriage between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, a genuine, loving union that provides much inspiration and hope for the future, in many significant ways.
David Windsor and Wallis Simpson, Duke and Duchess of Windsor
Capt. Peter Townsend and Princess Margaret
Flowers outside Buckingham Palace, London after Princess Diana's death in Paris, Aug. 31, 1997
Funeral Procession for Princess Diana, Sept. 6, 1997
at least some of the reality at minimum. Because as I wrote, much of what's coming out, the statements and tone are not based in facts, and some are fabrications. Diana was a wonderful, warm person and mother, and a 'high born woman who was treated very badly' as one of the staff stated. IMO Diana was the best thing to come out of that family in generations.
