The Queen's Platinum Jubilee - special displays at the official residences
Release date: Monday, 15 November 2021
In celebration of The Queen's historic Platinum Jubilee, three special displays marking significant occasions in Her Majesty's reign – the Accession, the Coronation and Jubilees – will be staged at the official royal residences in 2022.
Dorothy Wilding, HM Queen Elizabeth II, 1952 ©
Dorothy Wilding, HM Queen Elizabeth II, 1952
At the Summer Opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Accession will include portraits of The Queen taken by Dorothy Wilding, alongside items of Her Majesty's personal jewellery worn for the portrait sittings. Shortly after Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne on 6 February 1952, the first official photographic sitting with the new Queen was granted to the photographer Dorothy Wilding. The series of photographs taken of The Queen in 1952 are remarkable for their modern, emblematic approach and formed the basis of The Queen's image on postage stamps from 1953 until 1971, as well as providing the official portrait of Her Majesty which was sent to every British embassy throughout the world.
Included in the Buckingham Palace display will be The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, which was a wedding gift to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, later Queen Mary, on the occasion of her marriage to the future King George V in 1893. Queen Mary gave the tiara to her granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth, as a wedding present on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Philip on 20 November 1947.
Her Majesty The Queen's Coronation Dress, designed by Sir Normal Hartnell, and Coronation Robe by Ede & Ravenscroft, 1953 ©
Her Majesty The Queen's Coronation Dress, designed by Sir Normal Hartnell, and Coronation Robe by Ede & Ravenscroft, 1953
At Windsor Castle, the Coronation Dress and Robe of Estate worn by The Queen for her Coronation at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953 will be on display. Designed by the British couturier Sir Norman Hartnell, the dress was created in the finest white duchesse satin, richly embroidered in a lattice-work effect with an iconographic scheme of national and Commonwealth floral emblems in gold and silver thread and pastel-coloured silks, encrusted with seed pearls, sequins and crystals.
Her Majesty's Robe of Estate was made by the royal robe-makers Ede and Ravenscroft of purple silk velvet. The goldwork embroidery design features wheat ears and olive branches, symbolising prosperity and peace, surrounding the crowned intertwined EIIR cipher. It took 12 embroideresses, using 18 different types of gold thread, more than 3,500 hours to complete the work between March and May 1953.
At the Palace of Holyroodhouse, visitors will see a display of outfits worn by Her Majesty on occasions to celebrate the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees. In 1977 for The Queen's Silver Jubilee, the royal couturier Sir Hardy Amies designed a striking ensemble of dress, coat and stole in pink silk crepe and chiffon with a matching hat designed by Simone Mirman with flowerheads hanging from silk stems. The ensemble was worn at the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on 7 June 1977 marking the 25th anniversary of The Queen's Accession.
The Queen's Galleries and the Royal Mews
In addition, two new exhibitions – Japan: Courts and Culture at The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace and Masterpieces from Buckingham Palace at The Queen's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse – will showcase some of the finest works in the Royal Collection.
The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, where historic carriages still used for royal occasions are on display, will open to the public for the first time since autumn 2020.