Today marks the 62nd anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation. Her Majesty was crowned on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey, the year following Her accession on 6 February 1952.
The Coronation was a solemn religious ceremony where The Queen undertook to rule according to law, to exercise justice with mercy – promises symbolised by the four swords in the Coronation Regalia (the Crown Jewels) – and to maintain the Church of England as part of her Coronation Oath.
The Queen’s Coronation day.
The day was also an occasion for pageantry and celebrations throughout the UK, the Realms and the Commonwealth.
The Queen Mother on The Queen’s Coronation day.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh wave to the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on the day of her Coronation.
Crowds line The Mall and The Queen Victoria Memorial on Her Majesty’s Coronation day in 1953.
SHE has been at the head of the United Kingdom for over 60 years, and now we take a look back at the amazing fashion history of Queen Elizabeth II.
In June 1953, 27-year-old Princess Elizabeth ascended to the throne and became the Queen of England and ruler of much of the free world. She used her wardrobe to convey an image of a stately world leader and was aided – to this end – by two couturiers in particular: Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies. Hartnell was the designer commissioned to create her coronation and wedding gowns and many of the shimmering satin confections that she wore to glamorous state occasions, while Amies primarily took care of Her Majesty’s daytime wardrobe.
From the start, Elizabeth chose the new bracelet for significant white-tie events. Several of her early portraits feature the bracelet; she also chose it for her official Diamond Jubilee portraits in 2012. The Queen’s collection includes a number of diamond bracelets of a similar shape and size to this one, including Queen Mary’s chain link bracelets and the diamond and gold bracelet that belonged to Queen Victoria.
Over the years, the Queen has become famous for wearing bright, block colours, pearl necklaces, pristine white gloves, headscarves and plaid skirts. Now her style is iconic, with Agyness Deyn naming the Queen as her fashion inspiration and Dolce & Gabbana basing an entire collection around her signature looks.
July 1936
Wearing matching plaid kilts and knitted sweaters, Princess Elizabeth (right), held the Pembrokeshire corgi in her arms as the dog received a biscuit from her younger sister, Princess Margaret.
April 1937
Queen Elizabeth and King George VI were pictured arriving with Princess Elizabeth, then aged 11, and Princess Margaret at Central Hall, Westminster, for the coronation concert for children. The sisters wore the same tailored dress coat with contrast-trim lapels and matching ribbon-adorned hats.
April 1940
On her 14th birthday, and wearing practical riding gear, the young Princess Elizabeth was pictured picking daffodils in Windsor Great Park.
February 1944
Wearing double-breasted coats and felt hats, Princess Elizabeth and sister Princess Margaret arrived at Westminster Abbey for the wedding of Lady Anne Spencer and Lieutenant Christopher Wake-Walker.
1947
In much the same way as Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement, Princess Elizabeth and her fiancé, Philip Mountbatten, revealed they were to marry in 1947. The future Queen chose a dress with an asymmetric hem and bow details at the waist and shoulders, paired with opened-toe shoes and simple pearls for the occasion.
July 1947
Princess Elizabeth and her fiancé arrived at the Caledonian Hotel in Edinburgh to attend a dinner given by the Duchess of Buccleugh, as policemen held back cheering crowds. The Princess chose a beautiful, fairytale-style, full-skirted dress with all-over draped detailing – accessorised with white gloves and pearls.
November 1947
The ivory silk dress Princess Elizabeth wore on her wedding day was designed by Norman Hartnell, and was inspired by Botticelli’s painting of Primavera. The gown was embroidered with white seed pearls, imported from America, silver thread, sparkling crystals and transparent appliqué tulle embroidery. A 13-foot train was attached at the shoulders and a silk tulle veil covered the Princess’ face. The satin bridal shoes were created by Edward Rayne. At the time the dress was made, the country was still suffering the financial aftermath of the Second World War and the Queen famously saved her ration cards to pay for her dress.
April 1948
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret both wore tailored, full-skirted coats and carefully positioned hats to the unveiling of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s British memorial in London.
December 1948
The Queen holds her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, following his christening service at Buckingham Palace. Prince Charles wears the royal christening gown, which was also worn by his mother, made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter’s christening in 1841.
August 1949
For an official royal portrait, the future Queen wore a silver off-the-shoulder gown, with a diamond tiara and pearl necklace.
September 1950
Late 1950
Two years before she was crowned the Queen of England, she wore a floral dress with pearls for this photograph with one of her beloved corgis.
June 2 1953
Norman Hartnell was commissioned to create the gown that Elizabeth wore when she became HRH Queen Elizabeth II.
1958
Wearing a smart single-breasted coat with a matching hat and a leopard print scarf, she was joined by her eight-year-old daughter Princess Anne and one of the family’s corgis for an official visit to Liverpool Street Station in London.
June 16 1959
She wore a lemon lace dress and matching jacket for a cocktail party at Windsor given by the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. The party marked the climax of a good day for the Queen – her horse, Above Suspicion, won at Ascot, and Prince Philip played in a polo match later in the day at Windsor Park.
1968
Princess Anne and the Queen gave four-year-old Prince Edward a swing while out in the grounds of Frogmore in Windsor. While Anne opted for a bold yellow dress with a short hemline, her mother chose a demure mint green two-piece skirt suit.
November 1972
Prince Charles, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne posed for a family portrait at Buckingham Palace. For the occasion, Her Majesty wore a Hardy Amies pale blue, long-sleeve shift dress and brown heels.
1978
She is famous for her iconic outdoorsy look – which Dolce & Gabbana paid tribute to for autumn/winter 2008-9, headscarf and all. Here, she is pictured in a Burberry check skirt and a belted jacket with a matching checked collar for a visit to Badminton.
July 1979
The Queen made a rare appearance in trousers when she, Prince Andrew and Prince Philip were on safari at the Luangwa National Park in Zambia during their tour of Africa in 1979.
May 1980
She didn’t have a hair out of place when she donned a pussy-bow blouse, a checked shirt, a brown cardigan and sunglasses to walk her dogs during the Windsor horse trials.
1984
Her Majesty wore a coordinating dress and cape, which was secured with a brooch, for the polo at the Guards Polo Club.
1986
In a bright pink Hardy Amies coat during her tour of New Zealand.
1988
The Queen and Princess Anne wore matching buttercup yellow ensembles to the Derby at Epsom Downs in the Eighties.
July 1996
Hardy Amies designed the bow-decorated dress that she wore in South Africa when she met with then-President of South Africa Nelson Mandela.
December 2008
Her Majesty was draped in cashmere and fur for the opening of Parliament. According to tradition, she also wore one of the royal tiaras.
April 2011
The Queen wore a scarlet suit to be shown the Sea King helicopter by Prince William at RAF Valley in Wales.
April 29 2011
Her Majesty wore a dress and matching hat by Angela Kelly for the wedding of Catherine Middleton to Prince William.
July 22 2011
She joined the Duchess of Cambridge for a tour of the Buckingham Palace summer exhibition, at which Catherine’s wedding dress was on display. The Duchess chose a Joseph dress, while the Queen wore florals.
March 8 2012
At London’s King’s Cross station with the Duchess of Cambridge, where they boarded a train for Leicester – the first stop of the Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK. The Duchess wore an L.K. Bennett teal skirt suit, Episode black heels and a James Lock hat, while the Queen was in a hot pink coat.
May 21 2012
On the opening day of the Chelsea Flower show, dressed in a lavender coat and black patent shoes.
May 23 2012
She hosted an event celebrating the arts at London’s Royal Academy of Arts, inviting guests from Vivienne Westwood to David Walliams.
June 3 2012
For the Diamond Jubilee flotilla on the Thames, the Queen wore a matching coat and dress designed by Angela Kelly
June 4 2012
For the Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace, the Queen wore an Angela Kelly gold lamé dress adorned with Swarovski crystals.
June 5 2012
For a Diamond Jubilee thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty wore an outfit custom-designed by her senior dresser Angela Kelly – a mint green silk tulle dress with star-shaped embroidered flowers, a chiffon drape embellished with Swarovski crystals, and a matching hat.
June 13 2012
She wore a Stewart Parvin coat and shift dress with a Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat for a Diamond Jubilee visit to Nottingham.
November 14 2012
Queen Elizabeth II paid a visit to the Royal Commonwealth Society wearing blue coat and hat and carrying a black Launer handbag.
November 19 2012
Queen Elizabeth II attended the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall wearing a gold dress with matching metallic shoes and a handbag.
December 20 2012
She arrived at Kings Cross Station in London wearing a red boucle coat with a matching skirt and carrying her black Launer handbag.
February 27 2013
She opened The New Royal London Hospital wearing a violet coat and matching hat, teamed with black shoes, gloves and a patent bag.
March 11 2013
She delivered her Commonwealth Day message at Buckingham Palace wearing a pink jacket teamed with pearl jewellery.
March 20 2013
To mark the 150th anniversary of the London Underground she wore a cream tweed coat with a matching hat and carried not only her patent black handbag, but also a bunch of spring daffodils and pink peonies.
April 4 2013
Her Majesty wore a floral brocade dress and matching jacket by Angela Kelly, with Art Deco Cartier brooches, to receive an honorary BAFTA award at Windsor Castle – in recognition of her support of the British film industry throughout her reign.
November 5 2013
She wore a white dress and red sash to attend a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
July 23 2014
She wore an ice blue suit to attend the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Glasgow.
March 4 2015
The Queen was all smiles at a ceremonial welcome for The President Of United Mexican States at Horse Guards Parade.
March 20 2015
She wore purple to visit the HMS Ocean in Plymouth.
It was on this day in 1953 that HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and her other realms and territories was formally crowned at Westminster Abbey.
source : British Vogue
Big Thanks
No Comments