MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Duke of Edinburgh rose planted to mark what would have been Prince Philip's 100th birthday

The Queen described the rose as “very lovely.”

Queen Elizabeth II marked what would have been her husband's 100th birthday by planting a rose named after the Duke of Edinburgh in the East Terrace Garden of Windsor Castle.

The 95-year-old monarch is believed to have chosen the spot because that is where the couple spent their final months in lockdown together. Prince Philip died on April 9.

The Queen described the double-flowered rose bush as ‘lovely’ and that the tribute to her husband of 73 years was “very kind.” The flower was given to her by Keith Weed, President of the Royal Horticultural Society and she watched as it was planted by head gardener Philip Carter in the front of the castle's mixed rose border of the East Terrace Garden to remember Prince Philip.

The Queen, wearing a blue dress, white cardigan and sunglasses, described the Duke of Edinburgh Rose, which is deep pink and double-flowered, as “lovely” and the tribute as “very kind”.

The newly bred deep pink commemorative rose from Harkness Roses has officially been named in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh.

“Each rose, there's a donation that goes to the Living Legacy Fund which will help more children. It's a beautiful flower in itself, a double flower,” Weed said.

Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle on 9 April. The rose was newly bred by Harkness Roses, which has been breeding and growing British roses since 1879. The firm will donate £2.50 from each rose sold to The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Living Legacy Fund, which will help one million more young people from all backgrounds and circumstances take part in the youth award scheme set up by Philip in 1956. Since his death, the fund has already raised half a million pounds.

Prince Philip was heavily involved in redesigning the layout of the East Terrace Garden and also commissioned the bronze lotus fountain at the centre.

Since his death, the Queen has returned to her official royal duties and on Sunday she will host US president Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at Windsor Castle.