Peterborough florist working 'all night' to create giant king's head and Royal carriage for Coronation

Peterborough florist creates ‘massively big display’ to celebrate King’s big day
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A peterborough-based florist and her team of helpers is creating a dazzling floral display in the city centre to mark the upcoming Coronation of King Charles III.

Edita Rimkute has already arranged a Royal carriage at St John’s Church, and is in the process of adding a striking 3D silhouette of the monarch’s head.

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The 48-year-old, who is originally from Lithuania, told the Peterborough Telegraph she found the idea of creating “one massively big display” to be “so exciting.”

Edita Rimkute's striking Royal stagecoach display has been made with red, white and blue hydrangeas, and crowned with symbolic sugarbushes (protea).Edita Rimkute's striking Royal stagecoach display has been made with red, white and blue hydrangeas, and crowned with symbolic sugarbushes (protea).
Edita Rimkute's striking Royal stagecoach display has been made with red, white and blue hydrangeas, and crowned with symbolic sugarbushes (protea).

“The carriage will be inside of the church,” she explained, “and the other arrangements will be outside.”

A professional florist for thirty years, Edita runs her Floravita family-run floristry business with her husband Vitalijus.

She acknowledged that an undertaking of this kind is a “really massive job to do.”

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“I have been working all night preparing everything,” she admitted.

The impressive 3D silhouette of the King's head is coming together. Jim Tovey from Peterborough Museum cut the shape and set up the structure.The impressive 3D silhouette of the King's head is coming together. Jim Tovey from Peterborough Museum cut the shape and set up the structure.
The impressive 3D silhouette of the King's head is coming together. Jim Tovey from Peterborough Museum cut the shape and set up the structure.

Edita’s displays – which have been put together in partnership with Peterborough City Council, Peterborough Museum and the church’s own flower team –are part of a larger ‘Crowns and Carriages’ event being held at St John’s for the coronation.

Starting at 4pm tomorrow (May 5) the event will showcase vintage Rolls Royces (‘cars fit for a King’), period dresses, and two coronation chairs on loan from Milton Hall. There will also be performances, including a presentation by June and Vernon Bull, who will be showing rolling images of how the city has celebrated past coronations.

Edita revealed that, because she is working with fresh flowers, timing will be key to the project’s success:

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“I have to leave everything to the last minute,” she confides. “Today (May 4) will be setting up and tomorrow (May 5) will be adding bits and bobs.”

Edita and husband Vitalijus will work 'all night' to ensure their Royal display at St John's Church will be ready for the Coronation.Edita and husband Vitalijus will work 'all night' to ensure their Royal display at St John's Church will be ready for the Coronation.
Edita and husband Vitalijus will work 'all night' to ensure their Royal display at St John's Church will be ready for the Coronation.

The Dogsthorpe resident encouraged anyone who would like to see the display to come and view it over the next few days

“It’s not going to last long,” she said, “because the flowers will be outside.”

Though the display and its impact will be relatively short-lived , Edita said the reaction she receives from admirers of her work always makes the effort feel worthwhile

“It’s really hard work but, finally, when you get that [reaction] - I am always over the moon.”

“We enjoy our job.”

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