Skip to main contentSkip to footer
Prince William appeared to be wearing a buttonhole with Forget-me-nots© Getty

Prince William's touching tribute to Princess Diana at palace garden party - did you spot it?

Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
May 11, 2023
Share this:

The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised guests at the second Buckingham Palace garden party of the year earlier this week.

Kate, 41, looked beautiful in a repeat powder blue Elie Saab ensemble, while William, 40, donned a morning suit with a blue printed tie, but did you spot another one of his accessories?

The Prince wore a buttonhole pinned to his left lapel, which appeared to be a tiny bunch of forget-me-not flowers.

Forget-me-nots were William's late mother Princess Diana's favourite flowers, and are therefore very special to both William and his younger brother, Prince Harry.

William appeared to be wearing a buttonhole with Forget-me-nots© Getty
William appeared to be wearing a buttonhole with Forget-me-nots
The couple stand for the national anthem© Getty
William and Kate hosted the garden party

The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace was given a makeover ahead of Princess Diana's statue unveiling in 2021, with the planting of over 4,000 buds, including 300 tulips, 200 roses and 100 Forget-me-nots.

Meghan Markle's bridal bouquet also featured Diana's favourite flower, with Harry handpicking forget-me-nots from the garden at Kensington Palace before their wedding day.

One of the first photos of Harry and Meghan's eldest child, Prince Archie, also featured the lovely blue blooms. The sweet snap showed the newborn in his mother's arms, as she walked through their garden at their UK residence, Frogmore Cottage.

meghan markle wedding dress prince harry© Getty
Meghan's bouquet featured forget-me-nots
View post on Instagram
 

William and Kate were joined at the garden party by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

The royals mingled with 8,000 guests, as they sipped on cups of tea and enjoyed sandwiches and slices of cake. See their arrival in the clip below...

WATCH: William and Kate surprise guests at palace garden party

A 93-year-old woman told the Prince of Wales how she slept on the pavement for three nights to see his grandmother's coronation in 1953.

Dame Elizabeth, of Solihull, told the PA news agency: "I came to Elizabeth's coronation and slept on the pavement for three nights.

"I had measles for George's coronation when I was seven years old. Of course, there was no television then so I couldn’t watch it but we had an accumulator radio."

The Waleses and the Edinburghs at the coronation garden party© Getty
The Waleses and the Edinburghs at the coronation garden party
Prince William meeting 93-year-old Dame Elizabeth Watts© Getty
Prince William meeting 93-year-old Dame Elizabeth Watts

Speaking about Charles's coronation, she said: "We watched the coronation at home, on Sunday we had a street party and on Monday I had to recuperate ready to come here."

LISTEN: Prince Albert of Monaco reveals why he wasn't allow to give King Charles a gift on his coronation

Princess Kate attends palace garden party© Getty
Kate looked lovely in an Elie Saab ensemble
Kate was spotted pictured talking with a group of Scouts© Getty
Kate was spotted pictured talking with a group of Scouts

Dame Elizabeth added: "It means absolutely everything [to be at the garden party].

"I was so surprised, I was nominated by St John Ambulance Service because I've done 79 years of voluntary service and when I was invited I was just amazed.

"I can't do events now but I’m still on some of their committees.

"I've done everything, I’m not being funny. I joined as a cadet then I ran a cadet division and since then I have been the deputy commissioner."

Make sure you never miss a royal story! Sign up to The Royal Explainer newsletter to receive your weekly dose of royal features and other exclusive content straight to your inbox.

Sign up to HELLO! Daily for all the latest and best royal coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information please click here.

More Royalty

See more