The Duchess of Sussex obviously watched Prince Philip’s funeral from the comfort of home in Montecito. There was talk of a special livestream for family and friends who could not make it, but I don’t see why Meghan would not have simply just turned on MSNBC or CNN, since both channels did extensive live coverage. But Meghan didn’t just watch from home, she also sent a special wreath full of symbolic flowers, and a personal note/letter for Philip.
Meghan Markle is honoring her grandfather-in-law, Prince Philip, as she watches his funeral service from her and Prince Harry’s home in Montecito, PEOPLE confirms.
The couple provided a wreath that has been laid for the Duke of Edinburgh on Saturday. Designed by Willow Crossley, who also worked with the couple on the flower arrangements for their wedding reception, Archie’s christening and the launch event for the Hubb Community cookbook, the wreath features a variety of locally sourced flowers.
Meghan and Harry specifically requested for it to include Acanthus mollis (Bear’s breeches), the national flower of Greece, to represent Prince Philip’s heritage; and eryngium (sea holly), to represent the Royal Marines. The wreath also features campanula to represent gratitude and everlasting love, rosemary to signify remembrance, lavender for devotion, and roses in honor of June being The Duke of Edinburgh’s birth month. The card accompanying the wreath was handwritten by Meghan.
The wreath and handwritten note were not the ones which appeared on Philip’s coffin during the funeral procession. The wreath on his flag-draped coffin was from the Queen, and the note which we could see on camera was from the Queen as well. I would generally assume that the Sussexes’ wreath and Meghan’s note was put somewhere in St. George’s Chapel. Anyway, just further evidence that Meghan is a class act.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
She certainly is. Bless Megs.
Classic. But also…going high when they go low? As in, I couldn’t help but remember Queen Petty’s refusal to have a wreath placed on Harry’s behalf for the veteran’s day remembrance.
She is a class act. Gracious and kind unlike other wannabes.
There was a photo of other wreaths from other royal families laid on the grass outside, so I imagine the Sussexes’ wreath was among them.
It was a lovely thoughtful gesture, but do we really expect anything else from Meghan?
There are pictures of ten or so wreaths inside the chapel at the foot of the pews, probably all from family members as the one from Meghan and Harry is among them.
She puts so much thought into everything she does. It makes her actions very meaningful and touching.
@ Myra, doesn’t it!! Just like her train of her dress had representation of every commonwealth!! Meghan never just gives half of an effort. She is always the one to take all of the necessary steps to go the extra mile of gratitude and paying tribute to all in her endeavors. Meghan is a master at this, hands down the epitome of thoughtfulness, kindness and compassion.
Yes, she does.
Class act? I mean, she is in general, but this is something that is so common, I don’t think it’s anything special? He was her family, of course she was going to send something
@Laalaa: Given the circumstances she was well within her rights to not do something. This is not an ordinary family and they’ve made their views on Meghan well known to the public. Anyway it was a wreath made on behalf of her and Harry.
I’ll argue Meghan and Harry were fine with Philip from how The Sussex spoke of him and the queen. And it’s an expected gesture for each family member to send a wreath to the service for many people.
So nothing about this is extraordinary. The relationship she has with the rest of the family is inconsequential. This is about the death of someone she was on good terms with and someone her husband loved and respected. Not sending a wreath would be worthy of criticism. sending one isn’t worthy of heaps of praise.
Wiglet Watcher, I agree that this is an expected gesture–except for the choice of flowers. I have, unfortunately, had to order flowers for family funerals and it never occurred to me to delve into the meaning of the flowers and choose accordingly. Perhaps this is something others do? I just thought it was incredibly thoughtful.
Given that Harry actually attended, presumably representing them both, it was a nice gesture.
I agree with you @AmyBee. This is what families do at funerals and since her husband attended, it would be wrong not to send a wreath.
And, what about the letter she wrote? Was this expected? ‘Cause I don’t think it should be expected–not for any member of that family. It was a thoughtful thing to do.
I agree, it’s a common thing to do for a funeral.
100%. This is what families do!
It’s never the wrong thing when you do the right thing. Better to err on the side of caution. It doesn’t matter what she does. There will always be people who say “it’s all an act, she is an actress, after all; she did such and such to make Kate look bad…” Yep. Big Ugh.
I agree. This is a common gesture for someone close who cannot attend the funeral. She would have been really ripped to shreds if she had not done it.
It’s class, (and probably what every other family member did) unless you are on SM, where it is “Meghan releasing the news to make the funeral about herself”.
From what I understand, Meghan didn’t release the news. A courtier ran to a RR and told them!
@ equality : what is “SM”? the Mail on Sunday? i did a search and didn’t find this headline anywhere.
I think it means social media, like Twitter, as opposed to specific websites or articles
Yes. The haters who comment on social media.
It was a very thoughtful, she always looks to the have a personalized meaning for what she does. She must have studied the language and meaning of flowers. It is something more of us should do.
Sadly I read a lot of twisted versions of this being made on Twitter and through news stories which seemed to act like sending flowers was selfish.
It was a funeral, people send flowers and notes of sympathy.. I highly doubt she or anyone from the Sussex’s side gave the info best guess is the florist or a palace leak.
If I were a reporter I would make connections with florist shops to get that kind of info about who sent what. And, this florist has worked with Meghan and Harry before so it would be a good bet to keep on eye on that particular shop. Plenty of people needing money during a pandemic would give info for pay.
Eve, you asked twice? We got your point the 1st time.
Guessing the press carried details on as many wreaths as possible but focused on Meghans. A florist or the palace would willingly give this information, there’s nothing wrong with that and it’s interesting.
The BBC even did a piece about the dining room table upon which Philip was born. Compared to that nonsense, wreath details are practically breaking news.
Ugh, yeah. I had an older family member call me after she watched on Fox News and the stuff she was saying, which she obviously heard from their commentary, was rage inducing. The whole Meghan inserting herself and making it about her was a talking point, as well as how Queen Elizabeth liked Trump because she tends to like those who are “cheeky.” I cannot. Oh, yeah, as well as Keen being the first one to talk to Harry because she is a peacemaker.
If one is getting complimented by Fox News, that is not a good sign. Just MO.
Being rude, petty, vindictive, spiteful and misogynistic is the definition of “cheeky”?
Trump essentially blackmailed the Queen because he wanted a state dinner at Buck Place. After Epstein’s arrest, Andrew received the most press despite other high-profile men using the service. Every day we heard more about Andrew until it stopped cold.
Then Trump went to Buck Place for his state dinner. Trump wanted Ivanka to walk in with William and Jared with Kate. The courtiers decided on another pairing scheme with Jared w/Princess Anne and Ivanka with a soon forgotten trade minister.
Ivanka was seated awkwardly and effectively shunned, although that was probably not intentional and more a result of the room’s flow. The tabloids referring to Tiffany as the “younger First Daughter” was.
I was really thoughtful. I don’t even get how this could be twisted. She sent flowers and a note to her grandfather’s in law funeral which she couldn’t attend for an extremely valid medical reason. Other family members sent flowers, the prime minister sent flowers. Are they twisting those gestures as well? No, so why Meghan’s? People need to get a grip and reconnect with reality.
@Lauren how I saw it twisted was criticism of her releasing the info ‘herself’ to pull focus, keep herself in the news, make the funeral all about her or merching for the florist. It probably serves the writer not to reveal how they came by the info
Hello identified the wreath as the one in shades of purple. Very pretty.
Yes, the wreath was pretty, and with the rosemary, nicely fragrant. Here’s the link to the Hello article: https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/20210418111283/meghan-markle-colourful-wreath-prince-philip-funeral-photo/
The negative comments even here about the classy gesture are unnecessary, not because she can’t be criticized but it’s her husband’s grandfather for cripes sake. If you’re looking for an angle to insert criticism, you’ll surely find one, smdh.
Not sure why, but reading this post made me teary. I guess I’m just feeling emotional this morning, idk, but it really hit me how Meghan is so gracious and thoughtful and they are so awful. Anyone else would have just sent a wreath but not put forth so much effort. Or maybe not even sent the wreath.
Here she is, after a miscarriage, pregnant and near-due, it’s a pandemic, her husband is back with the vipers, she’s alone with their toddler son…and she still manages to be the picture of graciousness.
So maybe it’s that my coffee hasn’t kicked in or something, but this really touches my heart.
I will be so happy for both of them when Harry is back in Montecito at her side.
Meghan seem to always follow proper decorum irregardless of the circumstances. She adheres to proper behaviour.
That being said, she was welcomed by the Queen and Prince Philip, beloved grandparents of her husband and it would quite sensible to show a thoughtful gesture.
The irony is not lost on me that Archie is the only member of the royal family that has his great grandfather’s surname.
Prince Edward’s children also go by Mountbatten-Windsor. They don’t use the titles Prince and Princess, eiher, though they’re entitled to.
Thanks for the update. I stand corrected.
If there details hadn’t come out, the press would be all over her for being cold and unfeeling. Can’t win.
I saw the wreath and it was beautiful. I love the sentiment and thought behind it. The haters wanted to rage on it because the other family wreaths were white. I think the Sussexes are at the point they don’t give a flip what the critics think. The queen may have liked that arrangement.
It was a sweet gesture from Meghan, especially considering what happened the last time one of the Sussexes requested a wreath be laid. It was described as the colorful one with the purple flowers. Very pretty.
So its wrong to hear about Meghan and Harry’s thoughtful wreath because yes it was from both of them, but its fine that we know all about the jewelry Kate wore? What’s that got to do with Phillip? Who is the self promoter again?
Of course she did.
The wreaths controversy really shouldn’t be one. It’s normal to send a wreath. It’s not an attention seeking situation to send one. I also don’t think it’s attention seeking to announce it either mostly because she would have been crucified had people not known she did do this.
What strikes me as inappropriate is the tabloids continued insertion of Meghan into the narrative of every piece about Prince Phillips death.
Lovely gesture and wreath! Personalized by her own calligraphy, perfect!
From some screencaps I saw there were multiple wreaths inside the church and im guessing there’s was one of them. Harry and Meghan havr been class this entire week and despite the multiple attempts by the media to goad them they’ve kept the focus as it should’ve been*.
*i wasnt a fan of the mind and didnt watch his funeral but he did just die and it’s disgraceful how the British media tried to make every single thing about H&M instead of the dead guy.
I had Sky News (British) streaming on my phone and BBC America streaming on my television. I didn’t see anything like that. To my taste, the Sky News coverage was superior to the BBC America coverage.
Wondering if any other family members sent out a press release to make sure everyone knew they sent a wreath?
After all the cr*p they gave Harry over his wreath for Veteran’s Day I don’t wonder they made it clear they sent this wreath. And I’m willing to bet the only reason this one made it to the chapel was because Harry was in attendance this time.
Good for them, Milly. I don’t blame them. If the reporters thought they were unimportant, they would not care to report about them.
As always, they think the malignant “she” leaked the details, when ir was y a joint decision by the Sussexes.
He (most assuredly) wanted to do something meaningful for the military in the UK, in regards of Remembrance day-, as he is a veteran and he works closely with Veterans.
As his wreath wasn’t allowed, he decided to publicly show his respect to fallen soldiers from 2 CW soldiers. Hee is one of the most entitled in that family to do so.
Well, we know KP sent out a press release to make sure everyone knew all about the jewelry Keen Guevara was wearing.
I’m saw a commentator say they were provided a PR statement with details on the wreath.
The wreath she chose was GORGEOUS. And felt very Californian and unique next to all the stark and more traditional white wreaths.
https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/20210418111283/meghan-markle-colourful-wreath-prince-philip-funeral-photo/
This doesn’t surprise me at all. Of course she did. I would like to be thoughtful like her in gestures like this!
This ridiculous kerfuffle over the wreath makes it so clear that H&M made the right decision by leaving. Safe travels back to your refuge, Harry.
There was a statement from their spokesperson. It said the wreath was from the both of them. Created by a then U.K. florist that made flowers for Archie’s christening. It was emphasized that it was from the both of them. Harry brought the note from 🇺🇸 And laid the wreath in the chapel himself earlier in the day. I think they released the statement because all week there was so much speculation about Meghan. The Daily Mail even had an article claiming she might flyover just to support Harry. Along with some other articles speculating about her thoughts, feelings etc. And one suggesting she could have flown but didn’t want to. So basically saying the Sussexes were lying about her not getting medical clearance. I think they wanted to put a stop to any and all speculation about her. The statement also said she was going to watch the service from home. If they hadn’t released a statement I have not doubt there would have been several tabloids stories making claims about what she was doing. The only reason it’s a controversy is because the trolls and the haters take issue with anything having to do with Meghan. The tabloids spent all week making Harry and Meghan the primary topic in connection to Prince Philip’s funeral but people want to be mad about a simple statement. Ridiculous. As others have pointed out KP briefed the press about the Queen’s necklace that Kate was wearing.
At some point in the future, I look forward to the press, at large, recognizing that Harry is in love with Meghan, and vice versa, and they are both normal people who have feelings, when their loved ones die. Fingers crossed!
These kind of stories is what makes me want to puke about the monarchy and the public’s fascination with mundane things coming from the monarchs. All of them just feel the need to win the public so they will compete wit each other and release all kinds of details to appeal to the emotions of the public. Like why is this info is even public? They surely had to talk to the press about it and yes, direct attention to themselves as well. Meghan as gracious and fabulous as she is knows how to play that game as well. And everyone over here is gasping at something that basically is the thing people do when someone in a family dies. They are not the first and definitely not the last family on earth that have petty conflicts, separation or racism problem, yet from my experience sickness and death does make for a rare moments of unity.