When Catherine Middleton married Prince William, she continued with the tradition started by Queen Victoria on her wedding day, by carrying a sprig of myrtle in her bouquet.

Following her marriage, Queen Victoria proceeded to plant this sprig of myrtle in her private garden.  Since then, all royal brides have carried a sprig of myrtle from Queen Victoria’s myrtle tree, in their bouquets, which is then duly planted in their gardens. Isn’t that so sweet?

Catherine also followed a tradition started by the Queen Mother, who left her bouquet at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, in memory of her younger brother Fergus, who was killed on the Western Front.

(A Royal official graciously dashed back to the Abbey and placed the bouquet on the Grave, on Catherine’s behalf, after the official photographs were complete.)

In addition to these traditions, it would appear that Prince Charles has helped Prince William and Catherine start a new tradition of their own.

The trees which were in the Abbey (which I can’t say enough good things about - so simple, elegant, so divine!) were from Prince Charles garden at Highgrove.

After the ceremony, the trees were removed from the Abbey and are to be placed in the gardens of Prince William and Catherine’s new home.

I love that despite this wedding being a formal state occasion, so many touching traditions were incorporated, which I would imagine, would have made the day feel much more like an intimate family affair.