The Queen's coronation robes will be the centrepiece of a display at Buckingham Palace, opening for the first time since her coronation sixty years ago. Named as the largest exhibition about the event to date, the Palace will herald the annual summer opening of its doors with a display of royal robes from Her Majesty's landmark day. As well as featuring the clothing and jewellery worn by the Queen during the ceremony at Westminster, the exhibition will also focus on outfits worn by the Queen Mother, Prince Charles and Princess Anne when the young Princess Elizabeth was inaugurated on June 2, 1953.
Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut described the coronation as one of the most significant moments in recent history, saying: "It was such a momentous event, probably one of the greatest in 20th century British history, because of its scale and the pageantry around it. "This show, because it is such an auspicious anniversary, will be on an unprecedented scale. It will be the first time that these outfits have been brought together since 1953. They are all in really good condition in spite of their age. The children's outfits are charming". Charles, who was aged just four at the time, was kitted out in a cream silk shirt, with a lace jabot and lace-trimmed cuffs, and woollen trousers offset by black patent leather shoes. His sister, Anne, wore a cream silk and lace dress, but at the age of two was deemed too young to attend the celebration.
Alongside the delicately small outfits, the Queen's satin gown will take prize position. The white Norman Hartnell garment will be joined by the twenty-one foot robe and jewels that adorned the monarch on her special day. This will be the first gathering of her ceremonial clothing since the event took place. Curator Caroline added: "The 60th anniversary of Her Majesty's Coronation provides a marvellous occasion to exhibit these charming clothes alongside the grand dresses and robes of the Royal family. "The children's outfits help to remind us of the Queen as Sovereign and, at the same time, a mother of two young children." The exhibition will be open to the public from July 27 until September 29.
