Queen marks Philip’s 100th birthday by planting the Duke of Edinburgh Rose
The Queen has poignantly marked what would have been the Duke of Edinburgh’s 100th birthday by planting a newly-bred rose named after her beloved late husband.
The monarch received the gift from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and watched it placed in the Windsor Castle gardens last week to commemorate Prince Philip’s centenary on Thursday.
The Queen described the Duke of Edinburgh Rose, which is deep pink, dappled with white lines and double-flowered, as “lovely” and the tribute as “very kind”.
She was wearing sunglasses in the June sunshine and dressed in a summery blue dress with a white floral pattern, white cardigan and a string of pearls, and was holding a patterned silk scarf.
The Queen smiled as she accepted the small rose bush, wrapped in brown paper and twine, from RHS president Keith Weed.
A year ago, the monarch and Prince Philip were photographed together in the castle’s quadrangle to mark the duke’s 99th birthday, but he died just nine weeks before he was due to turn 100.
Weed told the Queen: “It’s a rose named the Duke of Edinburgh Rose to mark his centenary and it’s a commemorative rose for all the marvellous things that he did over his lifetime and for everyone to remember so much that he did.
“Each rose, there’s a donation that goes to the Living Legacy Fund which will help more children. It’s a beautiful flower in itself, a double flower”.
The Queen said: “It looks lovely”.
The Duke of Edinburgh Rose was newly bred following Philip’s death on April 9 by Harkness Roses, which has been breeding and growing British roses since 1879.
For every rose sold, the firm will donate £2.50 to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Living Legacy Fund, which will help one million more young people from all backgrounds and circumstances take part in the youth award scheme set up by Philip in 1956.
Describing the rose, Weed said: “Right now, with a cold spring and nature being a little bit behind, it doesn’t look so lovely there but that’s what it looks like. The picture says it all”.
The Queen replied: “Well that’s very kind”.
Looking at the label, the Queen also saw it features a small profile photograph of a smiling Philip wearing a white panama hat.
The monarch watched as the tiny shrub bush – which will grow to around 70cm tall – was rehomed by Windsor’s head gardener Philip Carter in the front of the castle’s mixed rose border of the East Terrace Garden, amid more mature specimens and purple alliums, as a permanent reminder of the duke.
The duke was instrumental in redesigning the layout of the East Terrace Garden and also commissioned the bronze lotus fountain at the centre.
The Queen remarked on seeing there was a “hole already” made for the rose, and chuckled in agreement when told Carter had done a lovely job with the borders.
The monarch remarked how the blooms were not fully out because of the cold weather in May.
“As you can see, nothing has flowered here much”, she said.
The RHS president replied: “I’ll tell you what, your roses are a little ahead of mine. But they really by now would normally be over”.
But the Queen responded: “No, no, no, it’s Ascot Week”, with Carter confirming the Queen had correctly identified when her roses usually bloom and how long they last.
The Queen added: “We had a very cold May, didn’t we?”
The Duke of Edinburgh Rose is described as having a delicate fragrance, and its flowers will develop in large clusters on long stems, deemed perfect for vase displays.
It is available to buy online, potted for £14.99, potted and gift wrapped for £18.74, or in a Gardeners Pack for £60.
Weed said afterwards: “Whilst being very poignant, it was also a delight to give Her Majesty The Queen, patron of the Royal Horticultural Society, the Duke of Edinburgh Rose to mark what would have been HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s 100th birthday and to remember his remarkable life”.
Prince Philip, who was born on June 10 in 1921, was the nation’s longest serving consort and dedicated decades of his life to royal service.
The Queen and the duke were married for 73 years and had spent lockdown in the safety of Windsor together.
Philip died peacefully at the Berkshire royal residence.
The Living Legacy Fund – which will benefit from the sale of the roses – will provide targeted help to young people who need specialist support to do their DofE, including those in financial hardship, in a young offender institution or prison, or those with special educational needs or disabilities.
Millions across the globe have taken part in the self-improvement and adventure initiative since it was set up by the duke 65 years ago.
For all the latest on the Royal Family - listen to our podcast