Royal Wedding Flowers 2018

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Wedding Flowers Are So Romantic — and Full of Meaning

The flowers picked by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to decorate the church at their royal wedding on May 19, aren't just downright gorgeous: they're poignant and romantic, too. The pretty petals have plenty of sentimental meaning for the couple, and might just bring a little tear to your eye with their symbolism. And they're also ticking all the love boxes, according to the language of flowers which the Victorians used to send secret messages. Harry's great, great, great, great, granny, Queen Victoria, loved this special code with all its symbolism and signs. So, were she alive today, she might appreciate the picks made by Meghan Markle for her own big day.

Image Source: Unsplash / Gemma Evans

Foxgloves

We know the flowers being used and the expert in charge of the blooms (top florist Philippa Craddock), but we don't know the color scheme. One of the royal picks is getting everyone guessing at something other than traditional white. While foxgloves do come in creamy shades, this cottage garden favorite is better known for its bright hues, like mauve and pink. It's also highly poisonous, so presumably is going to be hanging high up in the church rather than nestling next to the flower girls. Putting that aside, in the Victorian language of flowers the foxglove means "protection" — a sweet promise for newlyweds to make to each other as they start married life.

Image Source: Flickr user Phil Norton

White Garden Roses

Perhaps the most poignant pick among the petals is the white garden rose. It was a favorite of Diana, Princess of Wales and the couple posed for their first engagement photos in the White Garden at Kensington Palace which was planted in her memory. Meghan and Harry have no doubt added this gorgeous flower to their selection as a nod to Diana. That said, it's also a bit of a wedding staple and given its meaning in the Language of Flowers, is no surprise. White roses are taken as a sign of new beginnings and are the perfect pick for a bride.

Image Source: Unsplash / Celestine Ngulube

Peonies

Just about everyone thought the peony would make an appearance in Meghan's wedding flowers as she's made no secret of her love for this beautiful bloom. She posted loads of pics of peonies on her Instagram, including one photo that seemed to hint her handsome prince had been spoiling her with her favorite flowers. Peonies, which come in all kinds of pastel shades, have long been seen as a symbol of good luck and a happy marriage, so that's just about all the boxes ticked there, then.

Image Source: Unsplash / Gemma Evans

Birch

Like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge before them, Harry and Meghan have chosen to decorate the church where they're getting married with trees and branches as well as flowers. They'll be taken from Windsor Great Park and the Crown Estate and will be a nod to sustainability. The birch has delicate leaves and twigs and it's seen as a sign of gracefulness, a pretty elegant way to start married life all round.

Image Source: Flickr user Ylva Staberg

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Beech

In the announcement about their wedding flowers, Harry and Meghan said they wanted the arrangements inside the church to reflect the "wild and natural landscapes" that many of the plants were coming from. Their decision to include branches of beech will no doubt help with that. This tree really comes to life in April and May when it's covered in catkins, so it will add plenty of color to St George's Chapel. The beech symbolizes prosperity and can also mean "lover's tryst," making it just about perfect for a royal wedding.

Image Source: Flickr user Andrew Hill

Hornbeam

The last touch of greenery at Harry and Meghan's wedding will come from the hornbeam tree which was also used by William and Kate inside Westminster Abbey for their wedding — a nice nod to family. Hornbeams are taken to symbolize resilience — so the newlyweds will be reminding us all that, once married, there's nothing they can't face together.

Image Source: Flickr user Leonora (Ellie) Enking