Alexandria’s Ella Jackson Named Virginia Junior Cherry Blossom Princess

Alexandria, VA – For one unforgettable week this April, 14-year-old Ella Jackson of Alexandria stepped into a role steeped in tradition, diplomacy, and springtime pageantry—serving as Virginia’s 2026 Junior Cherry Blossom Princess during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

While the festival spans roughly two weeks to capture the fleeting bloom of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin, the Cherry Blossom Princess program unfolds over a concentrated week of cultural exchange and ceremonial events. Each state is represented by a single delegate, and in 2026, Ella was selected to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Junior program.

Ella took part in the Junior Princess ceremony on April 4 and, the following evening, participated in one of the festival’s most meaningful traditions, the Lantern Lighting Ceremony at the Tidal Basin. Held annually since 1954, the ceremony marks the official opening of the festival and celebrates the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan.

During the April 5 event, the Japanese Ambassador and the Sakura Queen—the Cherry Blossom Princess representing Japan—lit the historic Japanese Stone Lantern, a 4,000-pound granite gift from Tokyo that dates back more than 375 years. As the lantern glowed beneath the soft canopy of blossoms, the 2026 festival officially began.

The Junior Cherry Blossom Princess Program, a newer addition alongside the Buds of Promise initiative, operates under the National Conference of State Societies. Students apply in February for the opportunity to wear the coveted sash and serve as youth ambassadors during the festival week.

For Ella, the experience carried deep personal significance. She continues a remarkable family legacy connected to the program: her great-aunt represented New Hampshire as a Cherry Blossom Princess in 1967; her grandmother later served as president of the New Hampshire State Society; and in 1990, her mother—former Alexandria Vice Mayor Amy Jackson—represented New Hampshire as a Cherry Blossom Princess.

“Watching Ella step into this role felt like watching history come full circle for our family,” said Amy Jackson. “To see her chosen as Virginia’s representative—and to carry that responsibility with such poise and excitement—was incredibly meaningful for all of us.”

Throughout the week, Ella joined fellow Junior Princesses, Buds of Promise participants, and senior delegates from across the country and around the world in cultural, educational, and ceremonial events across Washington, D.C. Together, they served as goodwill ambassadors—selected for their academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to community service.

By the time the festival culminated in the National Cherry Blossom Parade, Ella had experienced a whirlwind week of tradition, connection, and purpose—adding her own chapter to a legacy that continues to bloom across generations.