Edinburgh's floral clock marks the Queen's platinum jubilee

A historic floral clock in Edinburgh will this year mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Work has finished on the world’s oldest floral clock in the capital’s West Princes Street Gardens.

Five gardeners from the City of Edinburgh Council’s park team took four weeks to plant more than 35,000 flowers used in the clock to have it ready for this weekend’s celebrations.

The clock, which has been in Edinburgh since 1903, will be in bloom until October. Since 1946, it has been designed in honour of various organisations and causes. In 2020, the design was changed to thank Edinburgh’s key workers.

Edinburgh's floral clock is the world's oldest Pic Edinburgh City Council

Lord Provost of Edinburgh Robert Aldridge said: “I am delighted to once again see the city’s beautiful floral clock completed, and in perfect time for the Jubilee weekend.

“Each year the iconic clock marks special occasions and events in the heart of the Capital and this year it is a unique tribute coinciding with celebrations taking place around the country as the nation marks the Queen’s 70-year reign."

The Floral Clock was first created in 1903 by then Edinburgh Parks Superintendent, John McHattie, and is the oldest of its kind in the world. It initially operated with just an hour hand, with a minute hand added in 1904, followed by a cuckoo clock in 1952. Until 1972 the clock was operated mechanically and had to be wound daily.

Since 1946 it has been designed in honour of various organisations and individuals, including the Girl Guides Association, Robert Louis Stevenson and the Queen, for her Golden Jubilee. In the clock's centenary year in 2003 it won a Gold Medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.