In this unique commemorative Jubilee mug Her ‘Herdy’ Majesty is depicted in the gown the Queen wore at the Coronation ceremony, Westminster Abbey on June 2, 1953. The outfit is completed with a silk velvet robe, ceremonial orb and sceptre, and the St Edward’s Crown.
The opulent satin gown was designed by the celebrated royal dressmaker, Sir Norman Hartnell. The cropped sleeve gown was delicately hand embroidered with both gold and silver threads, encrusted with pearls, sequins and crystals.
Hartwell famously submitted nine different designs to the Queen before the final gown was chosen.
A floral tribute to the Commonwealth
In early discussions with Sir Norman, the Queen requested floral emblems of each of the four UK nations to be included. The English Rose, Scottish Thistle, Irish clover and the Welsh Leek were all intricately incorporated into the design. It’s reported that Sir Norman had requested the daffodil to represent Wales, however, he was overruled. Sir Norman wrote about the decision “In the end, by using lovely silks and sprinkling it with the dew of diamonds, we were able to transform the earthy Leek into a vision of Cinderella charm”.
The Queen was also keen that nations of the commonwealth were represented. Emblems such as the lotus flower from Pakistan and the maple leaf from Canada were added to the design.
The Robe of Estate
This grand ceremonial robe was only worn once Princess Elizabeth had officially been crowned sovereign. The rich deep purple colour has great significance. Historically, the colour was reserved solely for Kings and Queens, due to its expense and rarity. The robe measured 6.5 metres in length and took 3500 hours to complete.
Diamonds are a Queen’s best friend
Known as the Coronation Regalia, the Queen wore a collection of the nation’s most precious treasures for the ceremony. These include the Sovereign Sceptre and Orb, which have been used at every coronation since Charles II. The Sceptre contains the Cullinan Diamond, which remains the largest, gem-quality, cut diamond ever found. Its estimated worth ranges from 40 million pounds to over 1.6 Billion.
The crowning glory of the collection is St Edward’s Crown. Dating back to 1661, the crown is symbolic of coronations, as it’s only used during the ceremony. It weighs an impressive 2.23kg and it is adorned with an abundance of precious jewels.
Herdy is immensely proud to have played a part in the celebrations of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year. The commemorative items we have produced stand as a memento to this very special occasion and to a remarkable woman. We hope they made ewe smile.
Photo Credits
Queen Elizabeth in her iconic Coronation portrait by Cecil Beaton | CREDIT: COURTESY ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST
Embroidery detail | Royal Collection Trust 2022
Norman Hartnell's sketch for the design chosen to be Queen Elizabeth II's coronation dress. Photo: The Royal Collections
Robe of Estate detailing | The Crown Chronicles
St Edward 11 Crown, Royal Collection Trust | HM Queen Elizabeth 11, 2022 | Prudence Cuming Associate
The Queen's Coronation Dress and Robe on display at Buckingham Palace.Credit: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire
Sign up for our newsletter and you'll automatically be entered into our monthly prize draw, ewe could win £100 worth of Herdy goodies!
Enter your email address
You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at hello@herdy.co.uk. We will treat your information with respect. By clicking to Join Us, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our terms.
