Covent Garden Academy of Flowers predicts the royal bouquet

LONDON, ENGLAND, November 19, 2010 (Press-News.org) Gillian Wheeler, Principal of The Covent Garden Academy of Flowers and one of the world's leading floral designers, drew on her 30-year career to predict the flowers that may be involved in the Royal Wedding.

"White roses were Princess Diana's favorite flower and Kate's favorite are said to be white lilies - as they will both be in season in spring and summer when the wedding is due to be held, it is highly likely they will be included," Mrs Wheeler said.

"All royal wedding bouquets have included a sprig of Myrtle to symbolise a happy marriage, ever since Queen Victoria's posy of snowdrops, the Queen Mother's lily of the valley bouquet, the Queen's British grown orchid bouquet, Princess Diana's Edwardian cascade and Camilla Parker Bowles' bouquet - most taken from Queen Victoria's garden on the Isle of Wight.

"All royal bouquets have also included fragranced blooms to evoke lasting memories."

Despite being a modern couple, royal protocol demands a traditional wedding and the flowers will be traditional to suit, she said.

"However as they were engaged in Kenya and William is said to consider Africa his 'second home', there are some beautiful Fairtrade roses grown in Kenya which could be included. Also as William is a Prince of Wales almost certainly something Welsh will be incorporated, maybe white daffodils," she said.

"The flowers may be sourced from Prince Charles' beloved organic Highgrove garden or foliage from the Royal Gardens which has the highest quality and variety of English foliage available."

However, despite vast experience providing floral designs for clients including The Royal Ballet, RHS Wisely, Royal Banqueting House Kew Gardens, Tate Modern and The Saatchi Gallery, Gillian Wheeler said the all-important wedding bouquet was a more difficult thing to predict.

"The style and shape of the bouquet depends on the fabric and design of Kate's dress," she said.

"However once the flowers are right, everything falls into place. As the eyes of the world will be on the happy couple, the flowers will enhance the enchantment of the day."

But flowers don't need to be a royal nightmare for the everyday UK wedding, as The Covent Garden Academy of Flowers runs a wedding floral design course.

The two-day course gives participants the technical skills needed to deal with many aspects of creating traditional and contemporary wedding designs, creating a range of bouquets, posies, buttonholes and corsages in a variety of styles.

Participants can also discover the secrets of conditioning and selecting flowers, costing to a budget, as well as visiting and buying at flower markets.

"The royal couple will have many experts to help them but all couples can work with flowers to transform their wedding. This course will help anyone achieve fabulous results for that perfect day," Mrs Wheeler said.

In 2011, the classes are available on February 3-4 and 21-22, April 4-5 and 13-14, June 16-17 and July 27-28. The two-day course costs GBP380, which includes all flowers and materials.

Anyone who quotes 'Will and Kate' when booking a wedding course before the end of the year will receive a 10% discount. For more information and to book, visit http://www.academyofflowers.com

For media enquiries please contact:

Annalise Walliker | 077 3839 7242 | 0207 323 3300 | annalise.walliker@imagination.com
Stephanie Rock | 079 3238 6771 | stephanie.rock@imagination.com