Spear’s Review

Shane Connolly was catapulted into the spotlight after supplying and designing the flowers for the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales (the former Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) in 2011 as well as for the coronation of King Charles III and Camilla in 2023.

Amid the fame, he continues to obsess over the fundamentals of conscientious floral design. ‘Seasonality is really important to me,’ he tells Spear’s. ‘When you cook, you want fresh, original, seasonal ingredients. Why should you want anything less from your flowers?’

Connolly still regularly attends flower markets, and always tries to buy British where he can. Having studied psychology in Ulster, Connolly set up Shane Connolly & Co in 1989 after training with some of London’s leading florists. A royal warrant holder, he has written five books and in 2025 was awarded an MBE for his contribution to sustainability in the flower industry.