A TALENTED florist has told of her pride at being chosen to create posies for the late Queen Elizabeth II twice.

Angela Smith was asked to make a posy for the late monarch for her Diamond Jubilee visit to Inverclyde in 2012.

She was working at Parklea Branching Out at the time and was thrilled to be given the opportunity to provide an arrangement for the Queen.

Angela, 66, who now works for the Royal Horticultural Society, said: "I was delighted when I was asked to do something so important.

"I felt honoured and quite nervous - it's special to be asked to create a bouquet for the Queen.

"I was so proud when I saw her holding the posy in Greenock.

"She held onto it for quite a while, so she must have liked it."

Angela, of Langbank, is a community outreach assistant with the RHS and runs workshops for community growing groups and schools.

The diamond jubilee wasn't the first time she received the royal seal of approval.

Back when she was an apprentice with Renfrew District Council in 1983 she was given the honour of making an arrangement for the Queen on a visit to Paisley.

She says she feels privileged to be chosen twice to create a flower arrangement for such a special person.

Angela, who is also west of Scotland organiser for RHS, said: "It was such a privilege to be asked as an apprentice to provide the bouquet for the Queen.

"I thought it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I was so delighted to be asked a second time."

Angela said she was upset by the Queen's passing and she decided to make a posy using flowers from her own garden to pay a personal tribute.

She told the Tele: "I was extremely sad, devastated.

"The Queen was very special and so dedicated to her work.

"The fact that she spent her final days in her beloved Scotland made me feel very emotional."