The ‘Duke of Edinburgh’ rose was gifted to the monarch last week by the Royal Horticultural Society, of which she is patron, and it was announced today that the rose has found a permanent home in the East Terrace Garden at Windsor Castle. A photo posted to the royal family’s Instagram account captured the moment that the queen—wearing shades and a floral summer dress on a hot day in Windsor (and pearls, of course)—was presented with the flower. The commemorative rose, in a deep shade of pink, was specially bred to mark Prince Philip’s centenary, and for every rose sold a donation will be made to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Living Legacy Fund. The Duke of Edinburgh Award, founded by Philip in 1956, is a scheme designed to transform the lives of young people living in Britain. A video captures the moment that the RHS president Keith Weed (that’s right, Keith Weed) presented to the shrub to the queen. Mr Weed described the rose as a “beautiful flower in itself, a double flower” and then accompanied the queen to the East Terrace Garden to oversee its planting. The queen said, “It looks lovely.” The East Terrace Garden already features more than 3,500 rose bushes arranged around a central fountain. We were surprised to find out that it was Philip himself who was responsible for the design of the garden and of the bronze lotus fountain. Although the garden was originally created in the 1820s, during World War Two it was transformed into a giant vegetable patch. Next up, here’s why the royal Women—the Queen, Kate, and Camilla—wore Colorless jewels to Prince Philip’s funeral.
