Vêtements du Sacre

The King reused historic items of clothing from the Royal Collection, worn by previous Monarchs at past Coronations. The ‘vestments’ were worn as His Majesty was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Coronation Chair.

His Majesty reused vestments which featured in the Coronation Services of King George IV in 1821, King George V in 1911, King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, including the Colobium Sindonis, the Supertunica, the Imperial Mantle, the Coronation Sword Belt and the Coronation Glove.

Although it is customary for the Supertunica and the Imperial Mantle to be reused, His Majesty also reused the Colobium Sindonis, Coronation Sword Belt and Coronation Glove worn by his grandfather King George VI, in the interests of sustainability and efficiency.

The Monarch is invested with the Colobium Sindonis after the anointing. It takes the form of a white linen shift-like tunic, and a plain collar fastened with a single button, intended to represent a priests' alb. His Majesty The King will use the Colobium Sindonis worn at the Coronation of his grandfather King George VI in 1937, which was made by the robemakers Ede and Ravenscroft.

The Supertunica takes the form of a full-length, sleeved gold coat and is worn under the Imperial Mantle. The Sovereign is invested with the Supertunica following the anointing and it is fastened with the Coronation Sword Belt.

This Supertunica was made in 1911 for the Coronation of King George V by Wilkinson and Son, Robe-makers and Tailors. The Supertunica has subsequently also been worn by King George VI at his Coronation in 1937 and by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Although this Supertunica dates from the twentieth century, the form of the Supertunica has changed little since medieval coronations. The design of the Supertunica is based on priestly and religious vestments.

Each side of the front of the Supertunica features an embroidered band with spiral threads, which take the shape of leafy stems using the goldwork technique. The embroidery was carried out in 1911 by the Ladies Work Society and, as part of the centuries-old tradition for the Supertunica, is based on ecclesiastical vestments from medieval times.

The Stole Royal for The King was newly created and embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework, from a design created, under the direction of Garter King of Arms, by Timothy Noad, Herald Painter at the College of Arms. Inspired by the Stole worn by Queen Elizabeth II, the new design features a series of roundels set in a gold chain framework and applied to Cloth of Gold. Each roundel features an embroidered image using the Silk Shading technique, also known as ‘painting with a needle’.

Designs in the roundels include the four emblems of the United Kingdom – Rose, Thistle, Leek, and Shamrock; a Dove of peace (representing the Holy Spirit); a Tudor Crown; the Crossed Keys of St Peter (representing the keys to heaven); the four Apostles and a pattern inspired by the Cosmati pavement in Westminster Abbey, upon which the anointing takes place. At the nape of the neck, is an icon representing St Lawrence, the patron saint of the poor and patron saint of the Girdlers’ Livery Company.

The embroidered illustrations were worked in different colours, using fine twisted silk threads, and each roundel has been edged with Gold Grecian and Pearl Purl. The Stole has a crimson lining and a gold twisted fringe.

The Girdle, also known as the Coronation Sword Belt, is made of cloth of gold, and embroidered in gold thread with arabesques and scrolls. It is lined with dark red silk, with a gold buckle stamped with national emblems (roses, thistles and shamrocks) and a gold clip for attaching the Jewelled Sword of Offering in place.

During the Coronation Service, the Sword Belt is placed around the Supertunica. The Jewelled Sword of Offering is then 'girded' or fastened at the Sovereign's waist using the Sword Belt. The Archbishop presents the Sword to the Monarch while saying that it should be used for the protection of good and the punishment of evil. The Sword is then removed and placed on the altar in the Abbey, before the Sovereign is invested with the Imperial Mantle.

Historically the Sword Belt is supplied new by the Worshipful Company of Girdlers for each Coronation. His Majesty has chosen to reuse the Sword Belt made for the Coronation of his grandfather, King George VI, in 1937.

The Sword Belt was made by Wilkinson and Son, Robe Makers and presented by the Worshipful Company of Girdlers in 1937. Ahead of the Coronation, the Royal School of Needlework undertook some minor conservation work on the Girdle, and it was re-presented to His Majesty by the Worshipful Company of Girdlers.

The Imperial Mantle is worn over the Supertunica and is more similar in design to a robe. The Imperial Mantle being used by His Majesty The King at the Coronation was made for the Coronation of George IV in 1821, and has been worn by King George V, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II. It is the oldest vestment being used in the Coronation Service.

The Imperial Mantle is made of cloth of gold, gold, silver and silk thread, silk, gold bullion fringe and a gold clasp. The cloth of gold is woven with roses, thistles, shamrocks, crowns, eagles and fleurs-de-lis. The gold clasp is in the shape of an eagle, which can also be seen on the newly created Anointing Screen, and in the form of the Ampulla which will hold the Chrism oil.

The Imperial Mantle was made by the tailor John Meyer in 1821 and the Royal Goldsmiths to George IV, Rundell, Bridge and Rundell supplied the gold eagle clasp.

The Coronation Glove or gauntlet is made for the Sovereign’s right hand. His Majesty The King has decided to reuse the Coronation Glove made for the Coronation of his grandfather, King George VI, in the interests of sustainability and efficiency. It was presented by the Worshipful Company of Glovers, made by Dents the glovemakers, and embroidered by Edward Stillwell and Company in 1937. This Glove was conserved by Dents with support from the Worshipful Company of Glovers and re-presented by the Company ahead of the Coronation.

The Glove is worn to hold the Sovereign's Sceptre during the Crowning and then removed before processing to the Throne Chair. During the Coronation Service, the Coronation Glove was presented to His Majesty by Lord Indarjit Singh of Wimbledon.

The Glove is made of white leather and the wrist is embroidered with gilt metal thread, wire and spangles in the form of national emblems including the Tudor Rose, thistle, shamrock, oak leaves and acorns. The back of the hand with an embroidered ducal coronet in red velvet above the coat of arms of the family of the Dukes of Newcastle. The wrist is lined with red satin.