The significance of the floral arrangement on top of HM Queen Elizabeth II‘s coffin has been revealed, as well as the words written on the “loving” note placed in the centre.
The nation bid a final farewell to our longest-reigning monarch at a State Funeral today.
Around 2,000 guests attended the official service at Westminster Abbey, including world leaders representing nearly 200 countries and territories, 500 foreign dignitaries – such as politicians, civil servants, and some celebrities – and many ordinary members of the public selected for charitable or community works.
Tens of thousands of mourners also travelled to London and Windsor for the State Funeral and burial service, and many more were seen gathering at different hubs across the UK to watch the historic event in real-time.
Queen Elizabeth II’s children – including the newly-ascended King Charles III and Queen Consort – were in attendance, as were her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other extended family members.
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The service concluded with a two-minute silence observed by the nation.
Now, it has been revealed why the floral arrangement placed on top of the Queen’s coffin is so significant and sentimental to her and the Royal Family, as well as what the message written on the card placed within the flowers reads.
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HM Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral took place at Westminster Abbey today / Credit: The Royal Family
The millions of people watching the State Funeral broadcast live will have seen the colourful wreath of flowers siting on top of Her Majesty’s coffin, along with the Royal Standard flag, and the Queen’s crown, orb and sceptre.
The wreath was made completely sustainably, upon King Charles III’s request.
The Royal Family has revealed that, also upon the King’s request, the floral wreath includes myrtle flowers which have been grown from a sprig of the Queen’s wedding bouquet when she married Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh back in 1947.
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The wreath also features foliage of rosemary, which is an ancient symbol of remembrance, and English Oak, which is a national symbol of strength.
The nation came together to commemorate the life of our longest-reigning monarch / Credit: The Royal Family
Flowers cut from the gardens of the Balmoral estate – the Scottish castle where the Queen spent much of her time including her final days before her passing – also feature prominently in the arrangement, and these include the Queen’s favourite flower, the sweet pea, as well as dahlias, phlox, white heather, and pine fir.
Many of these floral tributes also hold a poignant tribute to the Queen’s relationship with her late husband.
Dahlia flowers symbolise a lasting bond and lifelong commitment between two people, while sweet peas are associated with departures and goodbyes, as well as being the birth flower of April – which was the Queen’s birth month.
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At The King's request, the wreath contains foliage of Rosemary, English Oak and Myrtle (cut from a plant grown from Myrtle in The Queen's wedding bouquet) and flowers, in shades of gold, pink and deep burgundy, with touches of white, cut from the gardens of Royal Residences. pic.twitter.com/5RteIWahuW
Typical of many floral arrangements at funeral services, many spectators also noticed that there was a card with a tribute message was placed in the centre of the wreath, and the message written on the note has now been revealed and shared by the BBC on the live television broadcast.
The message on the note card was from King Charles III, and was said to simply read – “In loving and devoted memory, Charles R.”
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HM Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96 on 8 September 2022.
During her reign, she served as Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth – undertaking an important symbolic and unifying role as a head of state, spanning numerous geographical regions, cultures, and religions.
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She was not just the longest-reigning British monarch in history, but she was also the first-ever monarch to reign in the UK for 70 years.
Admired for her duty and dedication to the role, today her remarkable life was remembered by all.
Featured Image – The Royal Family (via Twitter)
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Manchester’s libraries to become ‘warm spaces’ with free hot drinks and WiFi this winter
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s libraries are set to become ‘warm welcome spaces’ offering free hot drinks and internet access to those in need again this winter.
After millions of local residents visited the ‘stigma-free safe spaces’ to escape and take refuge from the cold each year since they were first introduced in 2022, Manchester City Council has decided to reintroduce its popular ‘Warm Welcome Spaces’ scheme again this year during the chillier months.
All 22 of Manchester‘s public libraries are, once again, taking part in the scheme this time around.
Designed to ‘provide support to people who need it’ over some of the most challenging months of the year when temperatures drop, the Council’s scheme is offering a range of different services – and they’re all for free of charge.
Free hot drinks, WiFi and internet access, data SIM cards, and newspapers are just some of the things people can make the most of inside these ‘warm spaces’, as well as get access to information, advice, and extra signposting to other support services they made need in the city.
Manchester’s libraries will become ‘warm spaces’ with free hot drinks and WiFi again this winter / Credit: Haydon Waldeck | koolshooters (Pexels)
There will be age-friendly spaces to connect with others, story times once a week at 11am for children under five, and even weekly digital drop-ins too.
Manchester Central Library, Miles Platting Community Library, Hulme High Street Library, Beswick Library, Longsight Library, and Abraham Moss Library are just some of the libraries taking part this winter.
All 22 libraries will be free to enter, and the Council says people can stay in them ‘for as long as you like’.
“For many years, the Council has been a proud supporter of the Warm Welcome Spaces initiative,” explained Councillor Thomas Robinson, who is the Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care at Manchester City Council.
“In Manchester we have been all too aware of the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and the hardships people have suffered as a result.
“It’s not an exaggeration to say this work has the potential to be lifesaving. The simple act of offering a person a safe place where they can interact with other Mancunians, to not feel alone or get the help they need, can have a lasting and meaningful impact.”
Find your local free ‘Warm Welcome Space’ in Manchester here.
Featured Image – RawPixel
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University fees set to increase in line with inflation but Government promises ‘better outcomes’ for students
Emily Sergeant
University tuition fees are set to increase in line with forecasted inflation for the next two academic years, the Government has announced.
Last year was the first year, since 2017, that tuition fees were increased in line with inflation, and now that the Office for Students is forecasting that 43% of institutions will be in deficit without further action to ‘shore up’ their finances, the Government has announced in its ‘landmark’ Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper – published this week – that fees will need to rise again.
To support universities in continuing to deliver world-class teaching and research, tuition fees will rise in line with forecast inflation for the next two academic years.
According to the Department for Education, legislation will then be brought forward, when parliamentary time allows, to enable automatic increases to fee caps in future years in line with inflation – but this will only be institutions that meet tough new quality thresholds set by the Office for Students.
Where standards are deemed to ‘fall short’, the Office for Students will then act quickly to stop the expansion of low-quality courses and will aim to hold providers to account.
University fees are set to increase in line with inflation for the next two years / Credit: PickPik
Universities that underperform could face financial and regulatory consequences, the Government has confirmed, as a way of ensuring public money is spent only on courses that deliver for students and the economy overall.
“Young people from all backgrounds feel they have been let down by a system that talks about opportunity but too often fails to deliver it,” commented Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, as the White Paper was published this week.
“Universities charge significant fees for their courses, but if they are going to charge the maximum, it is right that they deliver the world-class education students expect.
“These reforms will ensure value for money, higher standards across our universities and colleges and a renewed focus on the skills our economy needs.”
The Government has also said it will also work with universities and local authorities to ensure they offer ‘adequate accommodation’ for their students.
It will also support efforts to drive down the cost of living going forward.
Emily Sergeant -
19th September 2022 
