Last Friday, I was lucky enough to be invited along to a very special preview of the summer exhibition at Buckingham Palace. This year marks the 60th anniversary of The Queen's Coronation, and in celebration The Royal Collection Trust have put together a series of exhibits across The State Rooms celebrating every element of the occasion, from the grandeur of the garments to the very personal details which emphasise a shift towards a far more relatable monarchy. Illustrating the planning, preparation and theatricality of this most opulent of state events, The Queen's Coronation 1953 offers a unique insight into a truly defining moment in modern British history, and displays some of the most significant objects from the ceremony itself:







The centrepiece of the exhibition is the Norman Hartnell
gown couture gown worn by The Queen for the Westminster Abbey service,
displayed alongside the Ede & Ravenscroft Robe of Estate,
elaborately embroidered with eighteen different types of gold thread.
Here the exhibition allows you a much closer look at the symbolic
signifance of the clothing of The Coronation, focusing on the
intricately created national emblems punctuating Hartnell's design and
the painstaking process of putting the gown together. The exhibition
also incorporates Hartnell's designs for The Maids of Honour, The Queen
Mother, Princess Margaret and The Duchess of Kent, each created with the
overall aesthetic of the day in mind. I was also really excited to see
firsthand the court dress of the Earl Marshall of England- my grandad
used to work for him so it was lovely to feel a little bit of a personal
connection!





Looking in detail at the objects
which proved so important both in the planning and throughout the
duration of The Coronation itself, the exhibition also displays an array
of books and paper materials. One of the most significant is
undoubtedly The Form and The Order of Service, used and signed
by The Queen on the day and until now kept away from public view in the
library at Windsor Castle. A personal invitation sent to Prince Charles
requesting his attendance at the ceremony is also a highlight- and a
very poignant reminder of the core family dynamic which continues
to shape the Royal Family as we know it today.
Returning to the
symbolism of the occasion, a replica of the bouquet of flowers carried
by The Queen incorporates a variety of national blooms, including lily-of-the-valley from England, stephanotis from Scotland, carnations from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man and orchids from Wales. Shedding light on the most sacred part of the
service, the exhibition also features (for the first time on public display)
the simple white dress worn for the Anointing. Television cameras and
photography were not permitted to record this most sacred of moments,
where the monarch is consecrated and set apart from the people as
sovereign, so to see Norman Hartnell's simple white gown on display
here is very special. Finally, perhaps my favourite of the objects
encompassed within The Queen's Coronation 1953 is the Diamond
Diadem, dating from 1820. Again incorporating the national symbols of
the rose, thistle and shamrock and encrusted with over a thousand
diamonds, this was something only worn by The Queen during the brief
journey to Westminster Abbey, but it is a truly iconic and beautifully
crafted illustration of the grandeur and spectacle of such a momentous
event.
If
you're in London over the summer or are looking for something to do one
weekend, then I'd definitely recommend paying the exhibition a visit.
The Queen's Coronation 1953 is
now open at The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace, and runs until September 29th 2013. To find out more and to book tickets, visit royalcollection.org.uk.
(Image credit: Sarah Farrell, please do not reproduce without permission.)
such beautiful gowns :) x
ReplyDeleteThis looks immense Sarah!
ReplyDeleteSophie
x
These dresses are beautiful and the diamonds...!
ReplyDeleteMaria xxx