The death of Queen Elizabeth II last Thursday (11) made a big impression on the United Kingdom. With 70 years of rule, he established himself as the longest-lived monarch in the history of the British crown and won the affection of many residents. Because of this, many floral tributes were left behind by all the royal residences as a show of condolence for the passing of such an important person.
Balmoral Castle, used as Elizabeth II’s personal retreat in the final moments of her life, received a large number of visitors who crossed the country to pay their respects to the late monarch. But what will happen to such a large quantity of flowers after the queen is buried? See what to expect from the royal family in the days to come.
flowers everywhere
(source: Pixabay)
Buckingham Palace, the official residence and main function of the British Monarchy, has been in discussion since the death of the Queen. On the day of his death, local officials placed a notice at the gate confirming the emperor’s death and the flag of Britain was flown at half-mast.
A few minutes later, the first people started coming to the gates to leave flowers. According to local media, people were encouraged to donate cash to charity instead of buying flowers for the queen. In a similar situation, millions of bouquets, cards and messages were left in Kensington Palace’s honor after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.
It is quite common for members of the royal family to take the time to see the wreath in person – as Philip did in 2021. In Diana’s situation, flowers and gifts were given after burial to the sick, the elderly, and children. Flowers that were no longer fresh were composted and used to grow new plants in Kensington Gardens. Cards and messages, in turn, were collected and stored for the former princess’s family.
mitigating the ecological impact
(source: Pixabay)
The death of Queen Elizabeth II has set in motion planning for the event as Britain observes 11 days of mourning. Although each stage has been mapped out in secret over the years, many have strayed from the script.
As more and more objects accumulate in the Queen’s monuments, issues of permanence begin to attract the attention of the British Crown. As with Diana, flowers left for the Queen at Buckingham Palace are being moved to a floral tribute garden in Green Park. However, the government has already warned that “non-floral items” are no longer welcome.
Local officials have already issued a warning asking the public to remove all wrapping from the wreath and place them in the bins provided – something that will help the flowers’ longevity and their compost. In addition, the Ministry of External Affairs has urged world leaders not to use their private jets to attend the Queen’s funeral, as this will only increase CO2 emissions.2 not the world.
It is recommended that foreign heads of state and their allies arrive by commercial flights and not use helicopters to travel around the capital.
