Their love story had spanned decades and as she said goodbye to her husband of 58 years, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece had a final, moving gesture of love for King Constantine II.
The only wreath on his coffin during his funeral service in Athens was from Anne-Marie. It was made entirely of lily of the valley, the same flower that she carried on their wedding day.
Across the tribute was a ribbon that read ”from your beloved Anne-Marie”. It was topped with the representation of a crown.
The white blooms of lily of the valley and the blue ribbon combined to make the colours of the Greece. The country’s flag was also draped across Constantine’s coffin.
The funeral took place in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens where the couple marred on September 18th 1964.
Anne-Marie, who was born a Princess of Denmark, chose a bouquet made only of lily of the valley for her wedding to Constantine.
The flower also has a very special meaning in Greece. Legend has it that it was created by the god, Apollo. He is said to have made it so that nymphs would have a soft carpet to walk on. In the language of flowers, lily of the valley denotes a ‘return to happiness’. It is a popular bridal flower and is given as a symbol of luck and hope.
As King Constantine was laid to rest at Tatoi, following the funeral, his widow helped to drape another standard across his coffin, carefully tucking it around the edges before placing her wreath on top of the casket once more.
It was a final gesture of love from a queen to a king, from a grieving widow to a lost husband.
