The christening robe worn by 62 royal babies, including Queen Elizabeth II, will go on show this April as part of the centenary exhibition Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace – a rare appearance that is thought to be the first time the robe has ever been on public display.
Made 185 years ago, the christening robe was first worn by Queen Victoria’s eldest child, Princess Victoria, for her christening in 1841. It was then carefully passed down and worn by consecutive generations of royal babies, including by Queen Elizabeth at her christening in May 1926 when she was just one month old.
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The robe is among approximately 200 items from Queen Elizabeth’s fashion archive that will go on display from 10 April in the largest exhibition of her clothing ever staged, charting her style across ten decades. Its display at The King’s Gallery is especially poignant as the gallery stands on the site of the private chapel at Buckingham Palace where the future Queen was christened, before the chapel was destroyed in the Blitz.
Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut said, ‘The christening robe was the most significant garment worn by Princess Elizabeth in her infancy and is an exceptional example of British craftsmanship – something Queen Elizabeth went on to champion throughout her life. As the earliest piece of clothing worn by the Queen, and by so many royal babies before and after her, it holds a special place in her wardrobe. We are delighted to be able to share it with as many people as possible in this centenary year.’
Made of cream Spitalfields silk from East London and overlaid with fine Honiton lace made in Devon, the robe was created by Janet Sutherland, Queen Victoria’s Scottish dressmaker and ‘Embroider to the Queen’. Although the silks used were the finest available at the time – Queen Victoria’s wedding dress had also been made of Spitalfields silk and Honiton lace – silk is naturally susceptible to degradation. The robe became fragile over time, and areas including the central panel, perhaps where little legs may have kicked, had worn thin. Although the robe had been repaired in the 1960s, by 2004, Queen Elizabeth decided it had become too delicate and commissioned an exact replica to be made, which has been worn for every subsequent royal christening.
The original christening robe has undergone 100 hours of careful conservation treatment by Royal Collection Trust’s textile conservator Cecilia Oliver in advance of going on display, with work including meticulous repairs of holes and subtle reinforcements to delicate parts of the fabric. It was also gently handwashed section by section and was one of the most significant conservation projects of the exhibition.
Visitors will also see a note handwritten by Queen Elizabeth recording some of the babies to have worn the robe – a tradition started by her grandmother Queen Mary, after the robe came into her care from Queen Victoria. The note reveals the importance of the robe for the Royal Family as an heirloom and symbol of continuity, and will be accompanied in the exhibition by the bonnet, silk satin shawl, sash, bows and ribbons embroidered with national emblems that were also traditionally worn for christenings.
Textile conservator Cecilia Oliver said, ‘The robe has been lovingly cared for over the generations – we even found a note on its box instructing that it be washed in natural spring water after use, which helps explain its remarkable condition despite such frequent use. However, after 185 years and 62 christenings, it was in need of conservation. It has been an honour and a privilege to work on such a special historic garment.’
The exhibition opens on 10 April with adult price tickets at £22. As part of Royal Collection Trust’s charitable aim to ensure that as many people as possible can access and enjoy the Collection, £1 tickets are available to those receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits throughout the exhibition’s run. Additional concessions are available including discounted Young Person tickets for 18–24-year-olds.
Events
Slow Looking: Conservation of Queen Elizabeth II’s Christening Robe
Tuesday 12 May, 13:00–14:00
Join textile conservator Cecilia Oliver for a free online talk about the conservation of the royal christening robe, accompanied by a guided slow looking exercise.
