4 min readNew DelhiJul 14, 2023 07:30 PM IST
First published on: Jul 14, 2023 at 07:30 PM IST
On May 6, a momentous coronation ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey as King Charles III and Queen Camilla were officially crowned. Now, the attire donned by Charles and Camilla during this historic event will be publicly showcased for the first time. As part of the summer opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, visitors will have the opportunity to view these significant outfits from July 14 to September 24, 2023.
According to the Royal Family, the clothing will form part of a special coronation display staged in the Ballroom to celebrate the historic coronation service. “The centrepiece of the display will be the outfits worn by Their Majesties as they departed from Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach and then appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony to greet the crowds. Shown alongside these will be a selection of the historic vestments worn by The King at the moment of crowning,” it shared further.
For his departure from Westminster Abbey, Charles wore the Robe of Estate which was previously worn by his grandfather King George VI for his coronation in 1937. Made of purple silk velvet with gold lace, it was conserved by the robemakers Ede and Ravenscroft in preparation for use by the reigning monarch.
“The King’s cream silk overshirt, worn throughout the service, and the Purple Coronation Tunic, worn for departure from the Abbey, were created especially for the occasion by Turnbull & Asser and Ede and Ravenscroft respectively. Their designs were inspired by similar items worn by King George V and King George VI at their Coronations. Shown alongside these will be The King’s Royal Naval Trousers, which are regularly worn by His Majesty as part of his Royal Navy full ceremonial uniform,” the royal family noted.
Queen Camilla’s coronation dress, on the other hand, was designed by Bruce Oldfield. It was structured like a coat dress with the modern ivory Peau de Soie silk dress featuring silver and gold embroidered floral designs, representing the King and Queen’s affection for nature and the British countryside.
According to the official website, “Her Majesty’s Robe of Estate was made in rich purple velvet by Ede and Ravenscroft, and designed and hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework using goldwork – a technique that dates back more than a thousand years. The robe’s design draws on themes of nature and the environment, including the floral emblems of the United Kingdom. For the first time on a Coronation robe, the design also features insects, including bees, butterflies, a beetle and a caterpillar.”
King Charles’ Robe on display in the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace (Source: Royal Collection Trust)
Visitors to Buckingham Palace will also have the chance to view up close some of the other historic vestments worn by Charles during his coronation. These include the Coronation Glove and the Girdle, which were previously worn by King George VI at his coronation in 1937. “The newly created Stole Royal was presented to His Majesty by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales during the service and worn for the moment of crowning. Its embroidered design on the cloth of gold features images of the four emblems of the United Kingdom; a dove of peace (representing the Holy Spirit); a Tudor Crown; and a pattern inspired by the Cosmati Pavement in Westminster Abbey, upon which the Anointing of His Majesty took place.”
Alongside the garments, visitors can also see the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which conveyed the King and Queen to Westminster Abbey for the coronation.
📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!
They were crowned on May 6 (Source: Royal Family) 
King Charles’ Robe on display in the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace (Source: Royal Collection Trust)
Share
