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Queen Elizabeth II garden opens to the public

Leyla HayesLondon
Reuters Princess Anne officially opens the Queen Elizabeth II Garden in Regents park. She is wearing an orange coat and standing at a podium in front of a row of creamy pink tulipsReuters
The Princess Royal officially opened the garden last week on what would have been her mother's 100th birthday

A new two-acre garden dedicated to Elizabeth II has opened to the public in central London following more than two years of development.

The Queen Elizabeth II Garden, in Regent's Park, has been created on the site of a former disused plant nursery.

The garden is a commemorative space reflecting aspects of the late monarch's life and public service.

It is in addition to the UK National Memorial to Queen Elizabeth II, which will be in St James's Park, close to Buckingham Palace.

PA People of a range of ages enjoy the park, with pink and white tulips in the foreground of the image. People sit on wooden benches on round pathway. PA
Members of the public were able to visit the garden for the first time today

Landscape designer Katharine Erme said every element of the space "is imbued with meaning".

She highlighted a strong central axis running through the site towards a rondel, describing it as reflecting the late Queen's "unwavering service and duty", while other areas of the garden are intended to represent her roles as "a mother, a wife, a woman".

Reuters The Princess Royal is shown the garden by Dr Linda Yeuh, Chair of The Royal Parks. Three women walk through a gardenReuters
The Princess Royal with Dr Linda Yeuh, Chair of The Royal Parks

The project, overseen by the Royal Parks team, also draws on the late Queen's well-known passion for horticulture and gardens.

Matthew Pottage, head of horticulture at the Royal Parks, said plant choices were inspired by her personal favourites and associations with royal residences.

He said: "There's some of her favourite flowers, such as lily of the valley. We have some different agapanthus varieties that are known for royal residences. And we also know that magnolias are one of her favourite flowering trees."

PA Women admire and take pictures of pale pink tulips. They have smiles on their faces as the enjoy. The photograph is taken through a cluster of tulips.PA
The project draws on the Queen's well-known passion for horticulture and gardens

The design also includes a woodland walk inspired by the Queen's reported enjoyment of a secluded path in the gardens of Buckingham Palace Gardens.

Visitors will be able to find a hidden corgi inside a water tower - a nod to her well-known affection for the breed.

The garden also reflects the Queen's long association with the Chelsea Flower Show, which she visited many times during her reign.

A commemorative information plaque titled "A Garden for a Queen" stands in the foreground, featuring a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Behind the sign is a garden landscape including a still pond, stone walkways, and a variety of trees and shrubs.
The garden is dedicated to the life of the late Queen

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