A blade lifting assembly (50) for mounting a blade (22) to or unmounting a blade (22) from a rotor hub (20) of a wind turbine (10), including a gripper (52) configured for gripping a central region (54) of the blade (22), the gripper (52) including a blade rotation device (56) configured for rotating the blade (22) about a rotational axis perpendicular to a longitudinal blade axis (76) of the blade (22); a root support device (70) configured to be mounted to a root section (71) of the blade (22); and connecting members (74) connecting the root support device (70) to the gripper (52), the connecting members (74) being configured for transmitting an axial load (82) of the blade (22) from the root support device (70) to the gripper (52).