The poignant reason Princess Eugenie didn't throw her wedding bouquet

The 28-year-old’s bridal flowers have instead been laid on the Unknown Warrior’s Grave in Westminster Abbey, as a touching tribute to the fallen of the First World War and international military conflicts since.

The Queen Mother started the tradition when she married King George VI at the Abbey in 1923.

It was laid there in memory of her brother Fergus who was killed in 1915 at the Battle of Loos.

The Queen, Princess Diana, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have followed suit with their bouquets.

Eugenie’s bouquet was created by floral designer Rob Van Helden's sister Patrice Van Helden Oakes.


It consisted of Lily of the Valley, Stephanotis pips, hints of baby blue thistles, white spray roses and trailing ivy.

Sprigs of myrtle from Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight were also included.

The tradition of carrying myrtle began after Queen Victoria was given a nosegay containing myrtle by Prince Albert’s grandmother during a visit to Gotha in Germany.

It was first carried by Princess Victoria, Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, when she married in 1858, signifying the innocence of a bride.

Princess Eugenie wowed in a low-backed bespoke gown by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vo at Friday's ceremony.

The Queen's granddaughter married her boyfriend of eight years Jack Brooksbank, 32, in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Eugenie, who works as an associate director at a London art gallery, wore her childhood surgery scars with pride, in a gown which exposed signs of a spinal op she had at the age of 12.

The princess had major surgery to correct a curvature of her spine, known as scoliosis, and had steel rods inserted into her back.

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