Bear’s breeches for his birthplace, sea holly for the Navy and roses for his birthday – Harry and Meghan’s wreath for Prince Philip’s funeral was curated to honour his life.
But royal author Robert Lacey claims this was not what the Duke of Edinburgh wanted.
The wreath was accompanied by a Press release which none of the other family tributes provided.
The couple liaised with Cotswolds florist Willow Crossley, who the Sussexes had a history of working with.
Crossley designed the flower arrangements for their wedding reception at Windsor Castle in 2018 and Archie’s christening in 2019.
Lacey said: ‘Even Meghan’s flower arranger had her own PR agency! Social media could hardly believe it.’
‘Do you think you’ve got enough recognition for your wreath now, Meghan?’ asked one user sarcastically on Twitter, now known as X.
Harry attended the funeral without his wife, but the couple provided an extravagant floral tribute
The couple worked with Cotswolds florist Willow Crossley, who has a long history with the Sussexes to make the wreath, which is pictured second from the right alongside other family tributes
‘She just can’t help herself’ was a response that seemed to resonate, according to Lacey. ‘”Me me me.” It’s all quite sickening.’
The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral took place on April 17, 2021, at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle – where Harry and Meghan married in 2018.
Philip had made clear he wanted ‘no fuss’ at his funeral. ‘Just stick me in the back of a Land Rover and drive me to Windsor,’ he reportedly said about his arrangements.
And this is what he got – for the most part. He picked the vehicle 18 years before his death, according to Buckingham Palace, and had it repainted dark bronze green – a colour used for military Land Rovers and a nod to the prince’s background.
His naval cap, sword, a flag representing his Greek and Danish heritage and spray of flowers chosen by the queen sat atop the coffin.
There were also just 30 guests at the funeral due to Covid restrictions.
But for a man who made specific requests for how his funeral should go, it is likely he would not have been impressed by the media fanfare caused by the Sussexes’ wreath.
At the funeral, Harry walked in line beside Princess Anne’s children, keeping his distance from his brother, William.
Body language expert Judi James at the time observed that the brothers ‘almost looked like strangers’, noting their lack of acknowledgment towards one another. She added that Harry appeared ‘desperate to avoid’ his brother.
Lacey, a historical consultant to the Netflix series The Crown, commented on the Press release: ‘The Dean of Windsor was just addressing the final commendation to the congregation in the chapel when journalists’ phones started to ping.
The wreath was accompanied by a card handwritten by Meghan who is said to have watched the televised ceremony from home
Philip’s naval cap, sword, a flag representing his Greek and Danish heritage and spray of flowers were chosen by the Queen to sit atop the coffin
Harry is pictured at the funeral procession following the coffin with William, Peter Phillips and Sir Timothy Laurence
‘Just before the end of the funeral service it was another tweet from Omid Scobie passing on Harper’s Bazaar’s report on the “sentimental tribute” from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.’
The post read: ‘BAZAAR.com can confirm that Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan contributed a custom wreath that was laid in honour of the Duke of Edinburgh at his funeral service at Windsor Castle today. A card, handwritten by Meghan herself, also accompanied the wreath.’
Lacey added: ‘The Sussexes’ wreath could be seen leaning among the other eight simple white and green family tributes in St George’s Chapel propped against the stalls on either side of the Duke’s coffin.
‘It had already attracted some attention on account of its unconventional and rather autumnal pink-ish brown flowers.’
The elaborate flowers from the Sussexes came with just Harry in attendance – Meghan had been advised not to travel as she was six-months pregnant with Lilibet.
The wreath was accompanied by a card handwritten by Meghan, who is said to have watched the televised ceremony from home.
The only other tribute which attracted attention was the Queen’s, which included white blooms including lilies, roses, freesia and sweet peas.
Contrasting the Queen’s modest flowers, Harry and Meghan’s tribute was a colourful and extravagant affair. Meghan is pictured in Australia in 2018
Harry follows the funeral procession where only 30 guests were invited due to Covid restrictions
These had been chosen personally and placed on her husband’s coffin with a concealed handwritten note.
The Queen and Philip were married for 73 years and he was the longest-serving consort in British history.
What was written was hidden in the flowers but some reports have suggested the Queen signed it off as ‘Lilibet’.
It is the nickname she was given as a child and was used by her closest family members. The Queen signed ‘Lilibet’ on the flowers at her mother’s funeral in 2002.
Contrasting the Queen’s modest flowers, Harry and Meghan’s tribute was a colourful and extravagant affair. Each flower in the wreath had a specific meaning, representing Philip’s history.
One American observer said: ‘It looks like the sort of party wreath you might put on your front door around Thanksgiving time. It’s not really a funeral wreath at all.’
Lacey, author of Battle Of Brothers, also said: ‘The detailed Sussex Press release explained why this was so.
‘Harry and Meghan had, apparently, invited their favourite Cotswolds florist to handpick locally sourced flowers.
‘Acanthus mollis (bear’s breeches) – the national flower of Greece – to represent the prince’s birthplace, together with Eryngium (sea holly) recognising his connection with the Royal Marines.’
The Duke of Edinburgh was born on the Greek island of Corfu in June 1921 and was sixth in line to the Greek throne. But Philip’s family had to flee the country when he was very young.
Then, at just 18 years old, Philip served during the Second World War and was one of the youngest naval officers to be made First Lieutenant.
The Press release read: ‘The wreath also features campanula for gratitude and everlasting love, rosemary to signify remembrance, lavender for devotion and roses in honour of June being Philip’s birth month.’
Wreaths often play a large part in royal funerals. At the Queen’s funeral, Charles placed a wreath with foliage cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Highgrove House and Clarence House on the coffin.
At Princess Diana’s funeral, which was one of the largest televised events in history, three wreaths of white flowers were laid on top of the coffin from her brother, the Earl Spencer, as well as William and Harry.
There was also a letter from Harry on her coffin addressed to ‘Mummy’.
Harry is pictured at Philip’s funeral at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle – where Harry and Meghan married in 2018
The only other tribute which attracted any attention was the Queen’s, which included white blooms including lilies, roses, freesia and sweet peas
It was reported that the Queen was relieved Meghan would not be coming to Philip’s funeral amid Megxit and the explosive tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey a month before his death – where the Sussexes criticised the Firm.
Lacey suggests that while Philip was not particularly troubled by the interview itself, he was concerned about the way Harry and Meghan handled the situation.
Although Philip encouraged members of the Royal Family to give interviews, he emphasised the importance of modesty and discretion, cautioning against discussing private matters publicly.
In her book, My Mother And I, Ingrid Seward writes about Harry’s public arguments with his family and his anger towards the monarchy.
Seward said: ‘He had discovered a way of making himself the centre of attention and that was by dissing his family, about whom he felt increasingly bitter.’
However, some Meghan and Harry’s supporters took to social media to defend the wreath.
One wrote: ‘If it had transpired that Meghan had NOT sent a wreath, what would you say then?’
The question remains whether the Sussexes got it wrong when it came to the wreath.
But they certainly did not make the same commotion with the wreath they laid at the Queen’s funeral in 2022, which was Meghan’s last time in the UK.
