Why is it I never manage to make it to the Royal Palaces when they’re open in the summer? Especially when they always have so many frocks on show! Perhaps its because I’m too busy doing other things, but I suspect it has more to do with the…ahem…'tourist prices' that are charged for admission, usually far beyond the reach of a poor London church mouse like me.
But this year, I promise I will go, if only to try catch a glimpse of the dress above, worn by The Queen on her wedding day. Now, although this dress has an interesting story of its own, I’ve always preferred the one about the Coronation Gown in which, after Norman Hartnell (later to be knighted for his services to the Royal wardrobes) presents 8 different versions, the final choice makes a near fatal error in assuming the official symbol of Wales was the daffodil, only to find out it was the far less inspiring Leek (no one gives you a bunch of those the minute Spring starts, I can tell you…). And then, to add insult to sparkly taffeta injury, a chance remark by Prince Philip reminds the designer that Her Majesty is queen not just of the British Isles, but of the Commonwealth as well...
Suddenly, a pretty frock already festooned with roses, shamrocks, leeks and thistles, also now requires maple leaves (Canada), Wattle Flowers (Australia), Ferns (New Zealand), Protea (South Africa), Lotus Flowers (India), and a combination of Wheat, Cotton and Jute, for the country with a bewildering array of National emblems, Pakistan. So how did he manage to get all of these onto one dress? Well, here’s how. Isn't that just the most delicious thing?
Now multiply that pretty assortment by, well, a lot, and you might just get close to the 3500 hours over 3 months it took the Royal School of Needlework to complete before coronation day...Ladies, I bow down before your superior stitching skills (and I salute your aching fingers!)
My attempts to find a decent picture of the whole dress have proved fruitless (although here is a lovely sketch by Hartnell, stored safely somewhere in Australia it would appear…), so I guess I’ll just have to save up and get myself down to the palace this year, or maybe just find myself a copy of the Coronation Day Daily Mirror, which (and can you imagine this now, somewhere beyond page 3?), practically wet its fashion pants with detailed descriptions of not only the Queen’s dress, but what everyone else was wearing.
Now, if you need more detail that I could squeeze in here, the divine fashion-era.com has the full coronation frock run down, and if you still want more (I know I did...) then the ever reliable Woman's Hour of Radio 4 has a practically bead by bead account of the frock itself, tucked away in its archives...
Where's the man could ease a heart
Like a satin gown?
Dorothy Parker (1893-1967)
