This time last year, the RSN’s Embroidery Studio had the honour of working on nine different pieces for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. We were also very privileged to welcome Their Majesties to the RSN to show many of the pieces being worked on and meet with our talented embroiderers and team of staff.

You can read about all the work we did in the newly added chapter of the updated ‘An Unbroken Thread: Celebrating 150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework,’ written by RSN Chief Executive Dr Susan Kay-Williams.

The book was first published to coincide with the RSN’s 150th anniversary, and this revised edition details the 2023 Coronation projects worked by the RSN – The King’s Robe of State, The Queen’s Robe of Estate, The Anointing Screen, The Stole Royal and Girdle, The Chairs of Estate and The Chairs of State.

The book also includes a foreword from our Patron, Her Majesty Queen Camilla, who wrote,

“…It is quite astonishing what can be achieved, and expressed, through the medium of hand sewing.

“I saw this for myself in May 2023, when a brilliant team of members did so much for the Coronation: conserving The King’s Robe of Estate, sewing the Anointing Screen and designing and hand embroidering my magnificent Robe of Estate, which features bees, butterflies, a beetle, a caterpillar and twenty-four different plants (including, appropriately for the RSN, Scabiosa – pincushion flowers).”

We are also now sharing a special video with Anne Butcher, RSN Head of Studio & Standards and Gemma Murray, RSN Studio Manager, who take you behind the scenes to talk about our work on this special robe. Watch the video.

Susan Kay-Williams comments:

“The RSN has a fascinating and turbulent history. Today it is stronger than ever with its broad teaching programmes from short courses to Degree level, an international reach and a wealth of highly trained professional embroiderers and tutors who can share their skills. Whether through teaching or working on a variety of projects from hangings featuring extinct flowers for an exhibition to coronation robes, the RSN team can always rise to the challenge.”

If you would like a copy of the updated book, please visit our website. The first 100 orders will receive a signed copy by the author, Dr Susan Kay-Williams.

Buy the Book

Watch the behind the scenes video about our work on Queen Camilla’s Robe of Estate.

Listen to the FiberTalk Podcast with Anne, Gemma and Susan, about the RSN Embroidery Studio coronation work.