Whether you loved or hated how Princess Kate's royal wedding bouquet looked, one thing's for sure: Once you know what the flowers in it symbolize, you're going to fall head over heels for the bouquet.
First, the basics: Unlike the massive, loose, cascading arrangement Princess Diana carried when she married Prince Charles, Princess Kate's wedding bouquet was, shall we say, understated. The shield-shaped arrangement was wired together for a structured look and contained seasonal, local flowers like lily-of-the-valley and sweet William, in addition to myrtle, hyacinth, and ivy. And even though the names of the other royal wedding flowers were released pre-ceremony, Princess Kate's wedding bouquet components remained top secret.
Yes, it was all white, a traditional choice for a wedding bouquet, but these royal wedding flowers meant so much more than that. Here's what they symbolize:
Lily of the Valley: According to the Queen Victoria language of flowers, this delicate bloom means trustworthy, a good characteristic for any husband or wife to have. But some say this flower instead represents the return of happiness. Perhaps a nod to the shaky time in the royal couple's relationship when Prince William was caught on camera kissing other English birds?
Sweet William: This one technically stands for gallantry, which the royal family is clearing brimming with, but I doubt Princess Kate would've chosen this pretty, though garden-variety, bloom if her hubby didn't share a name with it. And how sweet is that?!
Hyacinth: Here's another with a double-meaning. The language of flowers says this one represents sport or play (the slim newlyweds do look rather sporty and playful, in comparison to other royals, at least), but others take this flower to symbolize the constancy of love, another crucial marriage quality (good choice, Kate).
Myrtle: It's royal tradition (and many others' tradition) to carry a sprig of myrtle in the wedding bouquet. In fact, every royal bride since Queen Victoria has played along--and Kate was no exception. But her and other princesses' and queens' myrtle come from a very special place: Queen Victoria's own 170-year-old garden. Besides that significance, myrtle's special meaning is the emblem of love and marriage. What's more fitting than that?
Ivy: Here's another apropos addition. This too stands for marriage, and also fidelity, friendship, and affection. (Awww…)
What did you think of Princess Kate's royal wedding bouquet (before and after you learned about the symbolism? Are you choosing wedding flowers for their meaning or just how pretty they are? Do you think Princess Kate should've went with a different kind of bouquet (perhaps a slightly large one because I do!)?
More Royal Wedding Fun__
Kate Middleton's Second Wedding Dress
Which Royal Wedding Guest Had the Craziest Hat?
The Symbolism Behind the Other Royal Wedding Flowers
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