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As Britons hurry to pay their condolences across the nation for Queen Elizabeth II’s royal burial the following week, flower sales are expected to soar. After Britain’s longest-reigning monarch passed away last Thursday, well-wishers flocked to London’s bustling Columbia Road flower market on Sunday to purchase vivid bouquets. Numerous gifts have already been placed outside Buckingham Palace and other royal houses, including cards, flowers, toys, and other things. Deane, 39, who was standing next to rows of pastel-colored hydrangeas, continued, “People are buying a lot of roses and chrysanthemums… that last well outside.”
Demand is “considerably high.”
According to the British Florist Association, demand has been “extremely strong” lately, especially for the queen’s preferred white lilies.
At the market, customer Caroline Roberts said, “I understand the queen was (also) enamored of yellow flowers, so I decided I would pick up yellow lilies.
“Stability… even when I was a tiny kid,” the queen represented.
The 57-year-old spoke with AFP before heading to Green Park, a beautiful oasis close to Buckingham Palace, to lay her flowers with her daughters.
Georgia Gomez, a student, chose sunflowers as her respect to the queen.
“Paying my respect is something really significant, and I got to experience this time in history,” the speaker said.
Aurelie Morter, a Montpellier-born French tourist, was also purchasing flowers as a tribute.
Following the passing of the queen, “we wanted to make a gesture,” she told AFP.
Some projected that the demand for flowers in the days leading up to the burial will surpass what was observed after Princess Diana passed away in 1997.
Demand will increase, according to Rospo, “without a doubt.”
“Unprecedented circumstance”
Deane, a Columbia Road vendor, concurred.
Following Diana’s passing, a floral ocean of some 60 million flowers was left at Buckingham and Kensington palaces. This ocean lasted for 10 days.
However, this week, British authorities asked that flowers be left for the queen in a special area inside the park.
Additionally, non-floral items like balloons, lit candles, and plush Paddington Bear toys are not permitted to be left by mourners.
According to reports, people who wish the monarch well have also been requested to avoid from leaving jam sandwiches as a token of their appreciation. The queen famously pulled one out of her handbag earlier this year during a Platinum Jubilee skit with the fictitious character Paddington.
