Queen Elizabeth marks late husband's 100th birthday with new rose
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II receives a Duke of Edinburgh rose, given to her by Keith Weed, President of the Royal Horticultural Society, at Windsor Castle, England, Wednesday Jun 9, 2021. (Steve Parsons/Pool via AP)
Queen Elizabeth II has marked what would have been her husband Prince Philip’s 100th birthday with the planting of a newly bred rose named after him.
The monarch watched the Duke of Edinburgh Rose planted in the Windsor Castle gardens last week to commemorate Philip’s centenary on Thursday (Jun 10).
She was pictured smiling as she accepted the small rose bush, wrapped in brown paper and twine, from the Royal Horticultural Society’s president.
The rose, which is deep pink and dappled with white lines, was newly bred following Philip’s death on Apr 9 at Windsor Castle.
For every rose sold, the company Harkness Roses will donate 2.50 pounds (US$3.50) to a fund aiming to help a million more young people from all backgrounds take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, a popular youth award programme set up by Philip in 1956.
READ: Queen Elizabeth thankful for 'support, kindness' after Prince Philip's death
Philip, who was born on the Greek island of Corfu on Jun 10, 1921, married then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947 – five years before she became queen at age 25. Their marriage lasted 73 years, making Philip Britain’s longest-serving consort. The queen has called her husband her “strength and stay” in public.
He devoted his life to royal service, taking on tens of thousands of engagements and accompanying the queen on official visits to around 140 countries. He retired from royal duties in 2017, at age 96.
(Source: AP)
