The Alexandra Rose Day is a charitable fund raising event held in June in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

since 1912 by Alexandra Rose Charities. It was first launched on the 50th anniversary of the arrival of

Queen Alexandra Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) was List of British royal consorts, queen-consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, from 22 Januar ...

from her native

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

to the

. She requested that the anniversary be marked by the sale of roses in London to raise funds for her favourite charities. The arrival of Princess Alexandra of Denmark in the

for her marriage to the Prince of Wales (later

King Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. The second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria and ...

) in 1863 was a public occasion. This was attributable to the then recent increase in the railway network, the lack of royal occasions in preceding years and the new process of photography, which had made it possible for pictures of the Princess to be sold in shops prior to her arrival. The City of London spent £40,000 on decorations and illuminations, and the result was a tumultuous reception for the bride. When the 50th anniversary of her arrival and wedding came, a processional drive through the streets of London seemed an obvious choice, but Alexandra wanted an occasion that would help the sick and needy. She developed an idea which would benefit the funds of London hospitals through the sale of artificial wild roses, which were to be made by young women and girls with disabilities at the John Groom Industrial Training Home. The day was to be called "Alexandra Rose Day". The first event raised £32,000, . The funds raised were a great benefit to hospitals, and the day became an annual occasion. By 1920, £775,000 had been raised for London hospitals. Queen Alexandra's Rose Day continued to be celebrated even after her death in 1925. Autochrome colour photos exist of women selling paper roses with poster billboards and decorated collecting cans in

Seaford, East Sussex Seaford is a town in East Sussex, England, east of Newhaven, East Sussex, Newhaven and west of Eastbourne.OS Explorer map Eastbourne and Beachy Head Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton B2 edition. Publishing Date:2009. I ...

on the 'Seventeenth Celebration Alexandra Day in memory of H.M Queen Alexandra Saturday June 16, 1928.' After a period of raising money for charities which do not normally get national attention for fundraising, today the charity is addressing food poverty in London, most notably through providing vouchers for disadvantaged families to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. The

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

traditionally launches the day by being the first person to buy a rose.

Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel; born 25 December 1936) is a member of the British royal family and the only daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and ...

, Queen Alexandra's great-granddaughter, is the current president of Alexandra Rose Day.

Notes

External links

1928 colour photos of Rose SellersAlexandra Rose Charity official siteAlexandra Rose Charities homepage
* {{Alexandra of Denmark, state=collapsed Charities based in Surrey 1912 establishments in the United Kingdom Recurring events established in 1912 Annual events in the United Kingdom Alexandra of Denmark