Service of Thanksgiving

[Administrator]

On the day of the Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, we would like to join the Royal Family and the rest of the country in celebrating the life of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.

HRH Prince Philip’s friendship with the Arboretum started nearly 20 years ago when he first visited in 2002 as part of Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee tour, and a tree was planted at the Arboretum to celebrate the occasion.

The Duke of Edinburgh visited the Arboretum to attend the dedications of a new memorial and bridge constructed in honour of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) in 2009 and the Guinea Pig Club Memorial in 2016.

His Royal Highness also accompanied HM The Queen for the dedication of the Armed Forces Memorial in 2007. During his visits, he took considerable time to learn about many of the other memorials and explored several exhibitions at the Arboretum.

A veteran officer of the Royal Navy, the Duke of Edinburgh served on several ships with dedications at the Arboretum, including HMS Ramillies, HMS Kent, HMS Shropshire and HMS Valiant.

National Memorial Arboretum

[Administrator]

Queen's poignant blooms: Her Majesty's wedding orchids and sea holly representing Prince Philip's naval career were included in deeply personal displays at Westminster Abbey.

Westminster Abbey decked in white, blue and red flowers today ahead of Prince Philip's memorial service.

Include roses, carnations, sea holly and dendrobium orchids, reminiscent of Queen's wedding bouquet.

The stunning displays were a patriotic combination of red, white and blue, and featured blooms that paid tribute to both the Queen and Prince Philip's wedding, and the Duke of Edinburgh's naval career. The larger displays featured eryngium, known as sea holly (the blue, spiky flowers), in a nod to the Duke of Edinburgh's career in the Royal Navy and lifelong love of the sea.

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