Queen Elizabeth II has received a timeless, posthumous tribute in the form of a magnificent tree planted in her honour at the gardens of Sandringham House.
The ‘fitting tribute’ was carried out by King Charles and Prince William, who planted an acer tree to mark the finish of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), an initiative that saw more than three million trees planted across the UK.
In May 2021, Her late Majesty launched an initiative to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee. Although the Monarch has passed away, the initiative continues to enable individuals to plant trees in honour of the Queen’s memory.
“It is hard to believe that two years have passed since my mother and I planted a tree in Windsor Great Park to mark the commencement of the Queen’s Green Canopy,” King Charles said.
“As the second planting season draws to a close, and with it this vitally important initiative, I particularly wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone from across the United Kingdom who has helped to plant over three million trees to create an enduring legacy in Queen Elizabeth’s name.
“This project has shown how simple, practical and positive gestures can make a big difference, and I can think of no more fitting tribute to Her late Majesty’s 70-year reign.”
The QGC has seen a number of high-profile names join in with the efforts, such as Sir David Attenborough who planted a tree in London’s Richmond Park.
The Royal Family has shared “an inspiring film narrated by QGC Ambassador Dame Judi Dench” to wrap up the initiative and show the project’s impact on Twitter.
In addition to being a way to honour the late Monarch, the project has facilitated over 30 urban planting initiatives in socially and environmentally disadvantaged areas and provided training to over 70 young individuals in the green sector.
A related initiative was launched across the Commonwealth in 2015, where all 53 nations were invited to contribute areas of native forest for permanent preservation, in recognition of Her Majesty’s lifetime of service to the Commonwealth.
This initiative marked the Monarch’s enduring commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability.