Wedding Bouquet

Crowds of people queued outside Westminster Abbey today to see the avenue of trees, the flowers and Kate's wedding bouquet of lilly of the valley on the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at the west end of the Nave (above). The custom of royal brides laying their wedding bouquets on this grave was begun by the Queen Mother, who laid her own wedding bouquet on the grave in remembrance of her brother killed in World War I. The unknown soldier also lost his life in that terrible war. His remains were brought from France and buried in the Abbey in 1920 to represent all the soldiers who died. The black Belgian marble slab was laid the following year. CLICK to visit Westminster Abbey's website to read the full inscription. The trees will remain at the Abbey until 6 May, when they will be replanted at Highgrove Gardens.