[Liz]

Kate’s bouquet was a shield-shaped wired bouquet of lily of the valley, sweet william and hyacinth with myrtle and ivy. The meaning of the flowers was very important to Kate, so the design included flowers of significance for the Royal Family and the Middleton family.

The flower meanings in the bouquet are: * Lily of the valley – Return of happiness * Sweet william – Gallantry * Hyacinth – Constancy of love * Ivy – Fidelity; marriage; wedded love; friendship; affection * Myrtle – The emblem of marriage; love

As tradition dictates, the bouquet contained stems from a myrtle planted at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, by Queen Victoria in 1845, and a sprig from a plant grown from the myrtle used in The Queen’s wedding bouquet of 1947.

(Images : BBC)

Kate really did choose seasonal flowers----Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) is generally only available in the UK in April and May. Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) is available generally from April to June. Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) are more readily available – normally from November to May.

The ivy and lily of the valley hair wreaths worn by the younger bridesmaids were influenced by the bride’s mother’s own headdress at her wedding in 1981.And the bouquets held by the bridesmaids replicated the flowers used in Kate’s bouquet, incorporating lily of the valley, sweet william and hyacinth.

[STARWISE]

Thoughtful and sweet .. just as she appears to be.
She’s a glorious addition to the monarchy.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Thanks for the update!

Well, here I am at Cape Kennedy and the launch has been scrubbed!

[DollyCali]

Liz, thanks for the info on the flowers.. I had heard one of them was Sweet Williams & thought that was just a jester toward HER SWEET WILLIAM!

she seems like such a thoughtful, caring woman. I think Will picked a gal that will truly be a royal jewel for the British monarchy

Thank you also for all the great additions to this thread (and so many others here at FR)

[novemberslady]

Thanks very much for posting this thread today.
I enjoyed watching the wedding, but being able to read the details was very nice.
Thanks again.