trees in the abbey

WHEN SEEING the "avenue of trees" in Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton this past Friday morning, I smiled about the significance of this in signaling a new era. I also immediately thought of the influence of The Prince of Wales' book I read recently entitled Harmony with the subtitle, A New Way of Looking at Our World, may have had on the wedding. Prince Charles's book is a scholarly work that fuses the disciplines of sacred geometry in architecture with science and technology of today within every realm of our lives, in which he makes a very conclusive call-to-action: "We stand at an historic moment, we face a future where there is a real prospect that if we fail the earth, we fail humanity. To avoid such an outcome, which will comprehensively destroy our children's future or even our own, we must make choices now that carry monumental implications." From the inside flap of the book jacket: "The book examines how mankind has abandoned its ancient balance with Nature and how rediscovering that balance is the key to solving our most devastating environmental issues." It goes on to say, " Harmony exposes the patterns of the natural world, which for centuries were woven into the fabric of human life, have been lost in the modern age." 

PRINCE CHARLES delves deeply, forcefully—dare I say bravely—into these inter-connected subjects and has created a most thoughtful clarion call for humanity to change back to a more sustainable and regenerative way of living. He suggests that it isn't impossible—but in fact, imperative—to get back to a more natural way of living, from the spaces we build to live and work to the ways we grow and farm our food.

Photograph ©Reuters/Sang Tan

IN KEEPING with this mode of thinking, according to a UK Press Association article, Florist Shane Connolly, the artistic director of flowers for the royal wedding, said he chose the trees to reflect the "medieval ethos" of Westminster Abbey. "These wonderful curved ceilings are supposed to reflect the branches of trees and that was when I thought of having trees in the abbey," he said. I have to wonder if he had also read Charles's book. The Gothic ribbed vaulting of the church certainly echoes the limbs of a tree canopy, although at a much grander scale than the trees, which form a canopy at a more pedestrian level.

Photograph ©Murray Sanders

FOR THE WEDDING, the aisle of Westminster Abbey leading to the altar was lined with six English field maples  (Acer campestre) and two Hornbeam trees  (Carpinus betulus) which were all around 20-25 feet tall. The trees were the most breathtakingly prominent feature of the floral displays focused on growing, rather than cut plants.

As for the significance of these particular types of trees, the English field maple (the only maple native to Britain) symbolizes humility and reserve (and was used to make loving cups in medieval times). And the hornbeam signifies strength and resilience because its wood is very hard and durable. 

Henry VII vault detail (westminster-abbey.org)

THE SEASONAL flowers shrubs and trees in hues of green and white for the wedding decor were mainly sourced from royal estates. It was suggested by the bride-to-be that it had to be British, seasonal and as organic and sustainable as possible. The plan for the trees after being on display in the church for the public until May 6th is for them to be planted at Highgrove, Charles's residence in western England. Other plants and such were to be donated to charity and planted elsewhere.

THE ROYAL FAMILY has been much-derided for the the lives they lead, but they are all in a singularly unique position to be ambassadors for a better world. Their lives, although cushioned with the riches that come with royalty, are not their own really. They live under extreme public scrutiny and really have no power except for the freedom to be somewhat unencumbered from politics-as-usual simply because of their standing as a royal family. I think this is what allowed Charles a strongly pro-earth perspective for the aforementioned book. In the book, he didn't mince words when outlining what needs to change.

IT WAS REFRESHING to see the simple beauty of trees magically forming an intimate human-sized canopy in Westminster Abbey for the royal wedding. I wish Prince William and his newly titled Duchess of Cambridge all the best in becoming shining examples of humility and honor in their richly decorated lives. Their beautiful and understated wedding (as these affairs go when the whole world is watching) has certainly given a strong signal that this might very well be the case.

CROWN JEWELS | (Top) These crown and cross ornaments have been a part of my collection for a number of years—so-long so, I don't recall where I purchased them. The crown, much unlike the real crown jewels, is made of pressed tin and accented with a faux pearl at the top. The Celtic cross ornament is quite royally embellished with colored glass stones and metallic zari thread. The ornaments are flanked with what I believe to be hornbeam and maple leaves (not of the provenance used in the wedding), but nevertheless to represent the trees that so breathtakingly lined the aisle of the abbey. 

TREES INSIDE | (2nd and 3rd from top) Workmen carry one of the English field maples into Westminster Abbey in preparation for the wedding. The photograph is copyrighted by REUTERS/photographed by Sang Tan. The vaulted ceiling in part of the abbey is quite reflective of the canopy of trees (photo from westminster-abbey.org). 

PRETTY PROCESSION | (4th from top) Kate Middleton and her father proceed through the "Avenue of Trees" placed inside Westminster Abbey for the ceremony, followed by her Maid of Honor (her sister Pippa Middleton) and the rest of the wedding party. The photo is copyrighted by Murray Sanders.

OAK CROWN | (Above, bottom) This oak wreath ornament is part of the "Illusions of Grandeur" collection by Wendy Addison for Seasons of Canon Falls/Midwest CBK is contrasted with real oak leaves. Kate Middleton's diamond tiara for the wedding was quite understated (for a royal tiara). The 1936 Cartier "halo" tiara was purchased by The Duke of York (King George VI) for his Duchess (The Queen Mother). Queen Elizabeth received the tiara from her mother on her 18th birthday. The earrings Kate wore were a gift from the Middleton family and made to match the tiara, who's new coat-of-arms includes acorns and oak leaves.

TREE SETUP | (Below): A video of the trees and other plants being delivered.

 

©2011 DARRYL MOLAND, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

Collecting and styling by Darryl Moland

Wedding photographs are ©Rueters/Sang Tan (tree in the doorway) 

and ©Murray Sanders (avenue of trees procession)