It was a secret wedding that was all over before we even knew it was on. Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi took us all by surprise by marrying discreetly at Windsor on July 17th 2020. The bride and groom emerged from their ceremony beneath a huge arch of bloom, mirroring the shades in Beatrice’s bouquet. And the flowers carried by the princess for her marriage at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Windsor are filled with significance as well as prettiness.
Beatrice’s bouquet was a medium sized, hand tied posy in pink and cream, created by Patrice Van Helden of RVH Floral Design. It’s very modern and very summery and, according to the language of flowers so beloved by Beatrice’s favourite ancestor, Queen Victoria, it’s very romantic.
The white jasmine in the bouquet signifies ”amiability”, which is always a good start for a marriage, while the waxflower is an increasingly popular pick for bridal bouquets as it symbolises ”long lasting success” and a happy wedding. The pink astilbe dotted amongst the showier blooms signifies ”dedication to a loved one”.
The sweet peas in this pretty posy have many meanings including ”blissful love” while the traditional myrtle, taken from a plant traced back to Queen Victoria, denotes love and has long been a symbol of marriage.
Roses are amongst the most romantic of flowers but their meaning does change according to the colours used. Beatrice’s bouquet included O’Hara garden roses which are known for their fabulous fragrance and large blooms. The princess chose a pale pink version of this flower for her bridal posy, which gives the rose the meanings of ”perfect happiness” as well as ”grace” and joy”.
But it’s the white roses in Beatrice’s bouquet that are perhaps the most symbolic. The porcelain ivory spray roses have the meaning of ”innocence” but they can also denote ”secrecy”, ideal for a wedding that the outside world had no idea was taking place until it was over. But most importantly, for a bride who walked into her wedding as Princess Beatrice of York, the white rose is the famous symbol of her family name.
The wedding bouquet took on even more significance when it was placed, following royal tradition, on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Westminster Abbey following the ceremony.
