The RSN designed and embroidered the Robe of Estate for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for the Coronation at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. To celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years on the throne and our work on the Robe, we will be running exclusive Coronation themed Live Online Day & Evening Classes:

An Anniversary Celebration: 3pm – 9pm on 31 March

After the Coronation in 1953, the RSN curated a special exhibition at St James’s Palace, London which featured the Robe of Estate. The front page of the souvenir catalogue from this event has inspired this class design. The design features Gold Japanese thread and is finished with chips of bright check Goldwork, plus Back, Satin and Chain Stitch.  Book Here

Coronation Gold: ‘Peace & Plenty’ 6.30pm – 9pm on 11, 18, 25 May and 8 June

Students can learn the Coronation Goldwork technique to re-create the ‘Wheat and Olive’ design featured on the Robe. This class covers several of the techniques used on the Robe including Cutwork, Chipping, Couching and Appliqué as well as Padding techniques to create a three dimensional effect.  Book Here

Her Majesty: 10am – 4pm on 11, 18 & 25 June

Inspired by the image of The Queen on the postal stamp in 1967, against a Union Jack background, the design uses counted Blackwork patterns, Surface Stitching and Beadwork as well as Long and Short Stitch, Stem Stitch and Padded Satin Stitch. Beads and diamanté are added to a glittering crown.  Book Here

There will also be the opportunity to see the sampler of the stunning ‘Wheat and Olive’ design which was made in 1953 at our Anniversary Exhibition, ‘150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework: Crown to Catwalk’.

Her Majesty’s Robe of Estate is 6.5 metres long and made of purple silk velvet. The Royal School of Needlework completed the embroidery on the robe in a total of 3,500 hours from February to April 1953. The work was carried out by 12 embroiderers, in shifts from 7am to 10pm each day including weekends. The work was embroidered using huge wooden embroidery frames which are still used by our Embroidery Studio. The RSN has worked on all of the 20th Century Coronation Robes, dating back to the 1902 Coronation of Edward VII and his wife, Alexandra.

Her Majesty’s Coronation Dress and Robe of Estate will be on display at Windsor Castle on 7 July – 26 September.

View all Day & Evening Classes.

View all activities for the RSN’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations.

Images of The Queen’s Robe of Estate and Coronation Dress are courtesy of The Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2022.  Additional images are designs for the Embroidery Classes;  the Goldwork Sampler that will be on exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum and a black and white image of the RSN hand embroidering the Goldwork on the Robe in 1953.