A royal guest planted a beautiful rose bush with the same spade used by her great grandmother Queen Alexandra over 100 years ago.

Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra visited the SSAFA Royal Homes at Queen Alexandra’s Court, Wimbledon, to plant a commemorative rose bush to replace a red oak tree struck down in last winter’s storms.

Wimbledon Times:

After the rose planting HRH Princess Alexandra attended a reception and met residents.

The fallen tree had been planted in 2005 using the very same spade and in the exact same spot by HRH Princess Alexandra to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the homes in St Mary’s Road, Wimbledon.

Her Majesty the Queen Mother had also used the spade to plant a Norwegian Maple tree in 1973 to celebrate the re-opening of Queen Elizabeth Court, following reconstruction, which still flourishes today.

The spade had first been used by Queen Alexandra on July 15 1905 to plant a tree on the top lawn to mark the official opening of the homes.

HRH Princess Alexandra was joined by the Mayor of Merton, Councillor Agatha Akyigyina, and the Deputy Lieutenant for Merton, the Rt Hon Sir John Wheeler, SSAFA trustee and chairman of the Royal Homes Friends Committee, Lady Jackson, as she unveiled a plaque to confirm the planting.

Lady Jackson said: "The staff and residents of the royal homes were honoured that Her Royal Highness could be with us on such a significant day, as we remembered the lives lost of those who served in the First World War and in every conflict since."

"As the only military charity in operation at the start of the First World War and still in existence today, SSAFA continues to provide support to those from the entire military community, and the Royal Homes offers an opportunity for ladies with a forces connection to live independently."

The planting took place of Armistice Day, November 11.