Writtle College Floristry lecturer Julia Ryde has been commissioned to make a posy for the Queen to be presented to her when she visits Chelmsford next Tuesday (6 May).
Julia, Senior Lecturer in Floristry and Course Manager for Higher Education Floristry, was commissioned by Chelmsford Cathedral to make the arrangement. She will be making a hand-tied posy of roses, sweet peas and ranunculi at the College, which a pupil from the Cathedral School will then present to Her Royal Highness.
Julia said: “This is a real honour to be asked to make the posy for the Queen! A photograph of the Queen being presented with a posy from a child is often an enduring image from her visits and I am absolutely thrilled that this posy will be made by myself and my students.
“We’ve decided to use yellow and cream flowers to reflect spring and link to the Diocese’s gold colour. We will also use some rosemary to add fragrance.
“It is a reflection of the status of the Writtle College Floristry courses that we were approached with such a high-profile commission.”
Her Royal Highness, who will be accompanied by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, on 6 May, is coming to Chelmsford for the first time since it was made a city and will visit the cathedral – where Writtle College graduation ceremonies are held every year - for a service to mark the Diocese's centenary year.
It is not the first time Julia has made a royal posy. She was asked to do so for The Duchess of Cornwall on her visit to the College in 2011. Students and staff at the College also made celebration bouquets for the Olympics in 2012.