Poppy wreath maker quizzes Queen during factory visit

The Queen has been asked why her Remembrance Day wreath took 93 poppies each year.

Brian Edwards, 45, who makes the royals' poppy wreaths, put the question to the Queen when she visited The Poppy Factory in Richmond, south-west London.

She said she did not know, and added: "I've never counted."

The Queen told Mr Edwards, who has worked at the factory for 25 years, that she would try to find out and let him know.

Normally, wreaths can take any number of poppies, but the royal wreaths use the same amount each year.

The Prince of Wales's wreath always takes 156, and it is only the Queen's which is made up of 93.

Mr Edwards from Feltham, west London, said: "The only solution we came up with together was that her father, the late king, was born in 1893 so it could be that."

During her visit, the Queen met workers at the factory, and had a chance to make her own poppy.

She did not wear one for her visit but took her finished poppy with her, observing: "And it stayed together."

The Queen met employee Frances West, 59, who was born on the Queen's coronation in 1953, as well as her husband, who works with her.

Sara Jones, president of The Poppy Factory, said: "All the staff she spoke to were very appreciative of the fact she spoke to everyone."

The Poppy Factory is the official poppy manufacturer and provides work for wounded or sick former service personnel and disabled dependants of services personnel.