Tenues du Sacre

In accordance with tradition, Their Majesties wore two different sets of robes during the Coronation Service – the Robes of State and the Robes of Estate. Robes of State are worn on arrival at Westminster Abbey, and Robes of Estate are worn on departure, following the Coronation Service, and are traditionally more personalised in design.

The King’s Robe of State is made of crimson velvet and was worn by King George VI at the Coronation in 1937. In preparation for the Coronation Service, the velvet was conserved by the Royal School of Needlework, with the lining and gold lace conserved by Ede and Ravenscroft.

The Robe of State worn by The Queen was originally made for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The Robe is made of crimson velvet and was conserved with adjustments made by robemakers at Ede and Ravenscroft ahead of the Coronation.

The King’s Robe of Estate is made of purple silk velvet embroidered in gold and was worn by King George VI in 1937. Robemakers at Ede and Ravenscroft conserved and prepared the robe ahead of the Coronation.

The Queen’s new Robe of Estate was designed and hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. The Robe itself was made by Ede and Ravenscroft.

The Royal School of Needlework’s design of the train drew upon themes of nature and the environment, featuring the national emblems of the United Kingdom, as well as paying tribute to His Majesty The King.

The Robe uses a rich purple velvet, which was chosen to match His Majesty’s Robe of Estate, and was embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework using the Goldwork technique, with the design also incorporating Her Majesty’s cypher.

For the first time, insects including bees and a beetle feature on the robe, drawing on the themes of nature and the environment and reflecting Their Majesties’ affection for the natural world.

In addition, there are a number of plants featured in the robe, all chosen for their personal associations. These include Lily of the Valley, which featured in Her Majesty’s wedding bouquet and was a favourite flower of Queen Elizabeth II; Myrtle, which represents hope; and Delphinium, one of The King’s favourite flowers and the birth flower of July, the birth month of The Queen.

Also featured is the ‘Alchemilla Mollis’, known as Lady’s Mantle, which symbolises love and comfort, Maidenhair Fern, which symbolises purity, and cornflowers, which represent love and tenderness. The Cornflower also helps to attract and encourage wildlife such as bees and butterflies.

Ede and Ravenscroft, renowned for being London’s oldest tailor, has a robemaking and tailoring heritage that stretches back over 330 years, having made garments for every British coronation since that of King William and Queen Mary in 1689.

Its London craftspeople have worked on the Robes of State and the Robes of Estate for Their Majesties The King and The Queen. Where required, the historic robes and garments were expertly restored and adjusted by hand.

Ede and Ravenscroft create hand-crafted bespoke robes and garments, using traditional skills, expertise and the finest textiles. The company has made robes and tailored garments for Royal, civic, legal and academic ceremonies in over forty countries around the world to date.

The Royal School of Needlework (RSN) is the international centre of excellence for the art of hand embroidery. It offers a range of courses around the world for beginners through to advanced.

The Royal School of Needlework’s Embroidery Studio is the heart of the organisation and based at Hampton Court Palace. All work is done by hand in the UK, using traditional skills. The RSN is renowned for its work for Coronations throughout history, including producing the Robes of Estate for the Consort of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth (later known as the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.