The Coronation outfits worn by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla have gone on public display for the first time at Buckingham Palace. The special Coronation display is part of a visit to the Summer Opening of the State Rooms, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary since the Palace first opened to the public in 1993.

The Coronation outfits worn by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Staged in the Ballroom, which was used by Their Majesties as a Coronation rehearsal space, the special display has at its centre the outfits, jewellery and insignia worn by The King and Queen as they departed from Westminster Abbey and then appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Shown alongside these are some of the historic vestments worn by The King as he was crowned, as well as the Anointing Screen, Throne Chairs, and designs for the Coronation invitation.

The King and Queen’s magnificent Robes of Estate are a highlight of the display. His Majesty’s Robe was worn by his great-grandfather King George V and grandfather King George VI for their Coronations and was conserved by the robemakers Ede and Ravenscroft.

The King’s Robe of Estate

Her Majesty’s Robe was newly made for the occasion by Ede and Ravenscroft and hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. Its design draws on themes of nature and the environment, featuring the floral emblems of the United Kingdom and a further 20 plants chosen for their personal associations, as well as insects including bees, butterflies, a beetle and a caterpillar.

A close-up of the embroidered details on The Queen’s Robe of Estate, showing a ladybird and a butterfly

Queen Camilla’s Coronation Dress was designed by Bruce Oldfield and features silver and gold embroidered floral designs, representing Their Majesties’ affection for nature and the British countryside, intertwined with celebratory bunting. Visitors may also spot some more personal details amongst the intricate gold embroidery: the names of The Queen’s children and grandchildren, and depictions of Bluebell and Beth, Her Majesty’s Jack Russell Terriers.

Curator Sally Goodsir makes final adjustments to The Queen’s Coronation Dress

The King’s cream silk overshirt and Purple Coronation Tunic were created especially for the occasion by Turnbull & Asser and Ede and Ravenscroft respectively, inspired by similar items worn by King George V and King George VI at their Coronations. Shown alongside these are His Majesty’s Royal Naval Trousers and the Star, Collar and Great George of the Order of the Garter, the oldest order of chivalry in the United Kingdom.

Visitors will have the opportunity to admire close-up the beautifully embroidered Anointing Screen, which was used to shield His Majesty from view during the most sacred moment of the Coronation. Its central design takes the form of a tree with 56 leaves, representing the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth, and its maroon, gold, blue and red colour scheme reflects the colours of the Cosmati pavement at Westminster Abbey.

The Throne Chairs used by Their Majesties for the Enthroning and the Homage next to the Anointing Screen

Beneath the Ballroom’s magnificent Throne Canopy, visitors will see the Throne Chairs used by Their Majesties for the Enthroning and the Homage. During their tour of the Palace’s State Rooms, visitors will also see the Chairs of Estate, which were used during the first stages of the Coronation, in the Throne Room. Both the Throne Chairs and the Chairs of Estate were made for previous Coronations.

In the Palace’s State Entrance portico, visitors will see the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which conveyed Their Majesties to Westminster Abbey for the Coronation. Visitors can combine their visit to the State Rooms with a trip to the Royal Mews, where they will see the spectacular Gold State Coach, which carried Their Majesties back to Buckingham Palace from the Abbey. The Gold State Coach has been used at every Coronation since that of William IV in 1831.

Curator Sally Goodsir makes final adjustments to The Queen’s Robe of Estate

Janet Redler, Managing Director of Janet Redler Travel, said: “This wonderful display provides visitors to Buckingham Palace with an opportunity to view close-up the outfits worn by the King and Queen at their Coronation, as well as to see a number of other magnificent and historic items that were used during the ceremony. The exhibition is sure to add an extra special dimension to a tour of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace in their 30th year of opening to the public.”

The special Coronation display is included in a visit to the Summer Opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace until 24 September 2023.

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All images courtesy of Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2023