Queen Elizabeth Wore Green to Prince Philip’s Memorial for a Sweet Reason
TL;DR:
- Queen Elizabeth II wore dark green to Prince Philip’s memorial service.
- The color appeared to be the Duke of Edinburgh’s official livery color, Edinburgh Green.
- Other royals wore a similar shade of green to Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth II publicly remembered her late husband on March 29. When she arrived at Westminster Abbey for Prince Philip’s memorial service she did so not in one of her signature bright outfits. Neither was she wearing dark hues sported by many other British royals and guests. The 95-year-old attended the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial wearing a shade of green that holds a special meaning.
Queen Elizabeth and the British royal family attended Prince Philip’s memorial on March 29
Nearly a year after Philip’s death at the age of 99 on April 9, 2021, and a scaled-back funeral, the royal family gathered to remember him. The occasion allowed others who weren’t among the 30 guests at his funeral, due to coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions at the time, to look back on his life and accomplishments.
Sitting in the pews alongside the royal family were hundreds of guests. Members of foreign royal families such as King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain were there. So were notable political figures including Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Also in attendance were representatives from the many charities Philip supported throughout his life.
Two of the Duke of Edinburgh’s great-grandchildren, Prince George, 8, and Princess Charlotte, 6, also made a surprise appearance. They arrived at the service of thanksgiving hand-in-hand with their parents Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Queen Elizabeth wore Philip’s livery color, a shade of forest green
Queen Elizabeth arrived at Westminster Abbey wearing a forest green coat and a coordinating hat. She also walked through the steps of the abbey carrying a purse and wearing gloves. As reported by Independent, the particular shade of green she wore appeared reminiscent of Philip’s official livery color, Edinburgh Green.
Queen Elizabeth wasn’t the only member of the royal family to wear Edinburgh Green. Prince Charles’ wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, wore an outfit of a similar color. And so did Princess Anne, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth and Philip.
The color has been previously seen multiple times in relation to the Duke of Edinburgh. Philip’s page wore the shade of green at his coronation. And at Philip’s funeral on April 17, 2021, a Land Rover hearse donned a similar hue.
Wearing Philip’s official livery color wasn’t the way Queen Elizabeth paid tribute to her late husband through her outfit. She also paid tribute to him with her accessories.
The queen wore a “Scarab brooch,” made of yellow gold, rubies, and diamonds. According to Hello! Magazine, it was a gift from the Duke of Edinburgh in 1966. Queen Elizabeth also wore the brooch for her and Philip’s platinum anniversary portrait.
The flowers at the memorial included a subtle tribute to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip
In addition to Queen Elizabeth’s outfit, another — very subtle — tribute to her and her late husband adorned Westminster Abbey. Philip’s memorial service also included, per a palace press release seen by Insider, specific flowers as a nod to the Duke of Edinburgh.
White dendrobium orchids were used in the flower arrangements because orchids were part of Queen Elizabeth’s wedding bouquet. Sea holly represented Philip’s naval career and “lifelong affection for the sea.”
