Sat, 30 Apr 2011
In memory of the Unknown Soldier
In 1920, the body of an unknown British soldier was buried with a full state funeral in Westminster Abbey. In 1923 when the Queen Mother married King George VI, she placed her Bouquet of flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier[1]. Since then every royal bride since has done the same. Until now. Today when HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton left the Abbey, she didn't.
In general I am infavour of the Royal Family, I see no benefits to be had from getting rid of them, and by and large, I am ambivilant towards the royal wedding. However, I am rather upset that she didn't honour the Unknown Soldier. Have we grown complacent now? almost one century on from WWI? Do we now forget those who laid their lives down in various conflicts so that we might have our way of life. Wikipedia beleives that the bouquett will be placed on the tomb tomorrow[2], But if previous brides have done so on the way back from the Alter (or on the way to, in the case of QEQM.) Why did Catherine not? Am I the only person who is actually upset by this? Time will tell if the bouquett actually arrives on the tomb tomorrow (Saturday 30th April).
Edit (2011-05-01): It seems that the bouquet was laid on the tomb, eventually.
"In keeping with royal tradition, the duchess's bridal bouquet was returned to Westminster Abbey where it was placed it on the grave of the unknown warrior in honour of Britain's war dead. It was a tradition started by the late Queen Mother in 1923." - BBC News
posted at: 02:06 | path: / | permanent link to this entry | 2 comments
Posted by Chris at Sat Apr 30 02:26:54 2011
Surely Princess Diana didn't, either, as she was married in St Pauls?
Posted by Ellie at Sat Apr 30 11:30:31 2011
I have read that the tradition is for the bouquet to go the grave the day after the wedding and not as they leave the abbey the day of their wedding as it is needed for official photos.