Floral tribute unveiled for Queen's 90th birthday

The Royal coat of arms is surrounded by flowers in the commemorative collection. Picture: PA

Forget-me-nots and cornflowers – which traditionally flower in April, the month the monarch was born, and in June, the month of her official birthday, respectively – have been chosen to decorate the Royal Collection Trust pieces.

Hand finished in 22 carat gold, the range of English fine bone china was made in Stoke-on-Trent using traditional techniques.

Among the items are a mug and a tankard which both feature the words of duty uttered by the Queen – then Princess Elizabeth – in 1947 in a radio broadcast from South Africa on her 21st birthday:  “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.”

The Queen, who turns 90 on 21 April, is said to be “delighted” with the collection, of which she had final approval.

Ian Grant, production controller for the Royal Collection Trust, said: “I’m happy to say she was delighted when she saw the china. The feedback we received was that she was very pleased and thought the design was lovely.”

He added that the flowers were chosen to add a lighter, more personal touch to the birthday pieces.

“We wanted to put out something that was a little bit different. Many of the commemorative ranges to mark events such as jubilees and coronations can be quite formal in their appearance. Here we wanted to put out something that was much more personal and delicate.

“The central feature of the design is the Queen’s coat of arms – we thought what better to surround that than flowers that might be in bloom both at the time of her actual birthday and official birthday in June.

“We made a garland of those two flowers together to surround the coat of arms.”

Official commemorative china made in Staffordshire is traditionally used to mark royal milestones such as jubilees, weddings and the arrival of royal babies, as it was for the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

All profits from the sale of the china will go to the registered charity, the Royal Collection Trust, which funds the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, as well as supporting educational activities, loans and projects to increase public access and enjoyment.