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Meghan Markle honours royal tradition with bouquet tribute at Westminster Abbey

It was part of a royal tradition

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Following her wedding to Prince Harry, Meghan Markle followed a sentimental royal tradition.

Her bridal bouquet was placed on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, which holds an unidentified British solider killed during the First World War, at Westminster Abbey on Sunday.

It has become a tradition for royal brides to place their bouquet on the tomb a day after their wedding.

Meghan’s bouquet was placed on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior (Photo by Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

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The tribute was initially started with the Queen’s mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who laid her bouquet on the grave in memory of her older brother Fergus Bowes-Lyon.

The Unknown Warrior’s body was brought from France and buried on Armistice Day, November 11 1920.

The grave pays tribute to all members of the military who have died in conflicts from World War I to the present.

Since the tribute started, nearly every royal bride has had her bouquet placed at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, which pays tribute to those who lost their lives in the conflict.

The Queen did, as did Princess Diana and The Duchess of Cambridge.

Owen Humphreys - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Meghan and Harry sharing a kiss on the steps of St George’s Chapel (Photo by Owen Humphreys – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Meghan’s bouquet included flowers hand-picked by Prince Harry and contains scented sweet peas, as well as jasmine and lily of the valley.

The bouquet also honoured Harry’s late mother Princess Diana, by containing her favourite flowers, forget-me-nots.

The flowers were designed by florist Philippa Craddock, who said she was “honoured” to be involved in the couple’s big day.

Harry and Meghan became the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following their ceremony on Saturday.

Millions around the globe tuned into see Harry, 33, and Meghan say their vows in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Meghan’s bouquet on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior (Photo by Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

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Thousands lined the streets to watch the couple pass through the town in a carriage procession.

The couple will go away on honeymoon after attending Prince Charles’ 70th birthday celebrations at Buckingham Palace tomorrow (Tuesday).


Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)

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