5 minute read
OUR PLATINUM QUEEN
A PLATINUM SUMMER | FLORAL FANFARE | FUN IN THE SUN
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II, 26 FEBRUARY 1952, BY DOROTHY WILDING. COURTESY OF ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST © HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II 2022.
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OUR PLATINUM QUEEN
OVER THE FIRST WEEKEND IN JUNE, THE COUNTRY WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO BRITAIN’S LONGEST-SERVING MONARCH. BUT THERE’S NO NEED FOR THE BUNTING TO COME DOWN ONCE THE PLATINUM PICNICS HAVE FINISHED. THE QUEEN’S ROYAL RESIDENCES ARE THROWING OPEN THEIR DOORS FOR THE SUMMER SEASON, OFFERING VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THE CELEBRATORY MOOD. AT THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE, SEE A DISPLAY OF OUTFITS WORN BY HER MAJESTY ON THE OCCASION OF HER SILVER, GOLDEN AND DIAMOND JUBILEES; HEAD TO WINDSOR CASTLE TO TAKE IN BOTH THE CORONATION ROBE AND THE EXQUISITE CORONATON DRESS, DESIGNED BY SIR NORMAN HARTNELL; WHILE AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, ADMIRE THE PORTRAITS CAPTURED BY DOROTHY WILDING, THE FIRST OFFICIAL FEMALE ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHER, TO MARK THE QUEEN’S ACCESSION TO THE THRONE IN 1952.
RCT.UK
A legacy takes
ROOT Slide into the celebrations for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer at the Tower of London’s majestic floral tributes
In some of the hottest, driest places on earth – think Death Valley in the US and the Atacama Desert in Chile – a natural phenomenon occurs that is so spectacular it feels altogether otherworldly. By some extraordinary alchemy, when the conditions are just right, a carpet of flowers bursts forth from the once arid sand, adding a sea of colour to previously barren pockets of our planet.
Such is the infrequency and rarity of these floral displays that they have inspired Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the custodian of the Tower of London, to recreate this natural wonder in celebration of an equally rare moment in history: 70 years of service by the UK’s longest-reigning monarch.
For those fortunate enough to witness the commemoration of the centenary of the start of World War I with the profoundly moving image of poppies cascading from the Tower into the moat below, few would have thought it would be surpassed. But with this year’s history-making celebrations, Superbloom ensures the Tower of London is again, dressed to impress. MAKING AN ENTRANCE
Where else in the world can you grab a mat and slide down into a flower-filled moat belonging to a landmark that is more than 1,000 years old? And yet, that’s the promise for those arriving to wander along paths lined with woven willow as they’re immersed in the moat’s wondrously fragrant floral display.
“We have included 29 di erent species of flowers and plants across 15 specially crafted seed mixes,” says Rhiannon Goddard, project director and HRP’s Head of Public Engagement Projects and Business Management. “We’ve planted about 20 million seeds in total, and they’ve been chosen for their ability to flower during the period we want rather than for any royal connection in mind. Although, we have chosen the cornflower as a bit of a signature flower because we’re hoping that they will all come out at roughly the same time to turn the moat a brilliant shade of blue, providing a nod to the fact that it was once filled with water.”
The Superbloom project is the first major change to the moat since 1845 and represents an opportunity for a structure that has been a defender of the capital for centuries to now guard against climate change. Professor Nigel Dunnett, well-known for bringing impressionistic wildflower meadows to urban spaces, is the mastermind behind adding biodiversity to this corner of the city. He has designed the carefully curated seed mixes and planting scheme to move through three distinct pollinator-loving colour waves: from sunshine yellows and oranges in June, to the burst of blue and purple in July, before an explosion of golds conclude the spectacle in August and September.
“The colour themes have more of a royal association,” Goddard reveals. “We’ve got gold and rich purples in there to reference the colour scheme of the Crown Jewels housed here; then, of course, the cornflower makes its visual link to the past, and you will see reds in there too, which is obviously a nod back to our moment with the poppies.”
Although the striking visual display created by the vast expanse of flowers is an experience in itself, HRP has ensured that a visitor’s journey around the moat is peppered with moments to treasure. “In the West Moat, it is about respecting the view of the Tower as a defensive structure, but as soon as visitors get around the corner, they’ll be introduced to more topography and our specially commissioned soundscape (Music for Growing Flowers by Erland Cooper), which is a really beautiful, hypnotic piece with layers of di erent classic notes. I think this will help people lose the sense that they’re in the city and will provide a moment of calm and contemplation that you don’t really get in this part of London very often,” notes Goddard. “Then there’s the Nest area, a wonderful woven willow sculpture by Spencer Jenkins, designed to provide a moment of reflection as you survey the scene of colour and scent in front of you. And finally, it becomes more playful in the East Moat, where we’ve got sculptures of insects and a willow tunnel to walk through. It’s about creating a slightly di erent experience on each side of the moat.”
THE FINAL FLOURISH
One area not to be missed is the Tower’s Bowling Green, where The Queen’s Coronation gown has been rendered in botanical form by Dunnett and landscape architects Grant Associates. Shrubs and summer flowers hint at the gown’s gold bugle beads, seed pearls and diamante crystal embellishment, while 12 cast glass orbs crafted by glass artist Max Jacquard evoke the 12 embroidered motifs of the Commonwealth that couturier Sir Norman Hartnell incorporated into the gown’s design. It’s a masterful display of artistry. “The team and I have been working on Superbloom since 2019, so it’s wonderful to see it come to fruition. I remember when Nigel first talked to us about superblooms and we realised what a lovely parallel could be drawn between this rare natural phenomenon and this extraordinary moment in history for our monarch. And what could be better than a huge floral bouquet to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee?” concludes Goddard.
“THE TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SUPERBLOOM SINCE 2019, SO IT’S WONDERFUL TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION.”
