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Dress for the Occasion
Title: Vladimir Tiara
Image Courtesy: The Royal Collection © 2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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Title: Black Velvet and Duchesse Satin Evening Gown, late 1940s
Artist: Norman Hartnell (British 1901-1979)
Image Courtesy: The Royal Collection
© 2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has opened the Royal Wardrobe and Jewelry Box to celebrate her 80th birthday.
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It is to the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace one must travel to view some well known dresses and
exquisite gems. Seven decades of the Queen's life are
traversed through 80 gowns and jewels.
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Sir Norman Hartnell received his first royal commission in 1935, designing the wedding dress
for Lady Alice Montague Dougal Scott for
her wedding to the Duke of Gloucester.
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Title: Duchesse Satin Embroidered Dress.
Worn by Princess Elizabeth for Official Portraits by
Karsh of Ottawa, taken at Clarence House, 1951
Artist: Norman Hartnell (British 1901-1979)
Image Courtesy: The Royal Collection
© 2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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Hartnell was also responsible for the bridesmaids dresses worn by Princess Elizabeth and her
sister Princess Margaret Rose.
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Title: Portrait of Princess Elizabeth, 1951, by Karsh of Ottawa.
The Queen wears a
Norman Hartnell Gown and
a Diamond Necklace given as a
Wedding Present in 1947
by the Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar.
Photographer: Yousuf Karsh (Armenian-Canadian 1908-2002),
CAMERA PRESS LONDON
Image Courtesy: The Royal Collection
© 2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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The Queen often selected a Hartnell design for her official portraits
such as the 1951 Karsh portrait taken when she was then Princess Elizabeth.
Hartnell designed the Coronation Dress for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
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Karsh first photographed the Princess during the Second World War. In his
autobiography he mentions she had just returned from her volunteer work,
changing tires. The photographer described the future Queen as "warm and spontaneous."
The Royal Jewels
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Often the Queen wears the Vladimir Tiara with the Cambridge Emerald Necklace. The necklace was made for Queen Mary's
Coronation and the Delhi Durbar. Both events took place in 1911. The necklace contains two pendants; a pear-shaped emerald and the
marquise-cut diamond Cullinan VI.
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Title: The Cambridge Emerald Necklace
Image Courtesy: The Royal Collection
© 2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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Queen Mary purchased the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara. It was first worn by the aunt of the Russian Tsar Nicholas II. Given the Russian Revolution
of 1917 it necessitated fleeing and often selling off valuable items in order to survive. Portions of the Russian collection belonging to the Dowager Duchess
were sold at a London auction following her death. Hennell and Sons of Bond Street hosted the sale.
auction hosted by
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Title: The Williamson Diamond Brooch
Artist: Cartier
Image Courtesy: The Royal Collection
© 2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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The Cartier designed floral brooch contains the 23.6-carat pink diamond and baguette diamonds given to
The Queen by Dr Williamson.
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Title: The Cullinan V Heart Brooch
Image Courtesy: The Royal Collection © 2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen inherited several of the jewelry pieces that will be on display from her grandmother Queen Mary in 1953 such as the Cullinan V Heart Brooch. The center stone is the fifth largest stone from the Cullinan cuttings of 18.8 carats.
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Sir (Edwin) Hardy Amies began working for The Queen in the early 1950s, first
designing day wear for a Royal tour of Canada. His style was often simplistic
with excellent tailoring. He also designed stage and film costumes, such as for Stanley Kubrick's
2001: A Space Odyssey
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Title: Grey Satin Gown embroidered with a
Fern Motif in Beads and Pearls.
Worn for a State Banquet given for
The Queen by President Eisenhower
at the White House, 1957
Artist: Sir Hardy Amies (British 1909-2003)
Image Courtesy: The Royal Collection
© 2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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Title: Silk embroidered shift worn by The Queen for a
Performance by Kiri Te Kanawa,
New Zealand, 1963.
Image Courtesy: The Royal Collection
© 2006 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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Dazzling diamonds and couture royal gowns on view at the State Rooms in Buckingham Palace, London: a great way to celebrate Her
Majesty's 80th birthday.
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Dress for the Occasion: Glittering Gowns
State Rooms, Buckingham Palace:
July 26 - September 24, 2006
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