Bill Nighy officially opens the Ever After Garden for cancer charity

A remembrance garden filled with over 25,000 illuminated white roses has opened to the public, raising vital funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.   

The Ever After Garden in Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, London, is a space to pause and reflect over the festive period. Visitors are invited to dedicate a rose to a treasured loved one and to make a donation to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which supports the work of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, a world-leading cancer centre.  

The garden’s launch – which was kindly sponsored by Event Partner Rosewood London – was attended by actor Bill Nighy, who cut the ribbon to officially open the garden for visitors.   

Bill said:

“The Ever After Garden is a wonderful way of combining an opportunity for people to express their loss while at the same time funding the research and treatment required to help families affected by cancer.”

The stunning installation will be open to the public every day from 3pm-9pm until Tuesday 19 December. Rose dedications can be made online, or during a visit to the garden.   

The Ever After Garden in 2022 was the most successful to date, raising over £200,000. The garden has now raised over £450,000 since it was first created in 2019.  

It was inspired by the late Production Designer and Art Director Michael Howells, whose work included the film Ever After, after which the garden is named, and ITV’s Victoria. His friends, Fashion Designer and Trustee of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity Anya Hindmarch CBE and Fashion Writer Camilla Morton created the Ever After Garden as a welcoming haven to remember those we have lost.   

Anya Hindmarch CBE, designer and Trustee of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, said:

“The Ever After Garden is a truly special and poignant place to visit, providing a space in which people can come together and remember someone they have lost. The garden means a great deal to so many and has raised an incredible sum for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which supports cancer patients not only at The Royal Marsden but around the world.”  

Antonia Dalmahoy, Managing Director of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, said:

“We are so pleased that the Ever After Garden has returned this winter in support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, offering a beautiful and peaceful space for reflection and to remember treasured loved ones.   

“The public has been incredibly generous in their support of the garden since it began, and the funds raised through rose dedications make such a difference to people with cancer, by supporting life-saving research. Thank you so much to Anya Hindmarch, Camilla Morton, Grosvenor, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, and all those who have helped make the garden possible this year.”    

Camilla Morton, writer and fashion creative said:

“It is touching to see how the Ever After Garden has grown and resonates with so many – those that return, discover, or have new reasons to add their dedication to the roses. This garden’s beauty glows from the love and memories in every dedication, and it offers a chance to remember, as well as support the incredible work of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.”  

For more information about The Ever After Garden and to dedicate a rose, visit: www.royalmarsden.org/ever-after-garden. 

Please tag images and follow the garden on Instagram: @royalmarsden @everaftergarden #everaftergarden.