Small dark blue T-shirt for the 2023 Coronation, with a printed image of a King Charles spaniel and a Jack Russell terrier, both of which are wearing party hats, flags, etc. (TRC 2023.0679a).
Handkerchief for the coronation of King Edward VIII, 1937. The coronation however never took place (TRC 2015.0405).In the run up to the coronation of Charles III, tomorrow, on the 6th May 2023 in London, I thought I would have a quick look at the TRC Collection to see what we have that was relevant, and yes, we have several items! Oh, how I love the TRC having a broad based encyclopaedic textile collection rather than a ‘specialist’ one! There are several related items in particular I would like to highlight.
The first is a cotton handkerchief (TRC 2015.040) printed to commemorate the coronation of Edward VIII in 1937, after the death of his father George V (reign 1910-1936). Yet, the coronation never took place because Edward decided to abdicate from the British throne in December 1936 in order to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee.
Hundreds of thousands of items, from mugs to tea towels and boxes of biscuits, were produced to celebrate the widely anticipated event. They were necessarily thrown out (or simply eaten).
Booklet entitled "Home Journal Royal Embroidery Gift Book 1937", with transfers for the coronation of King George VI in 1937 (TRC 2019.1441).As a result of Edward’s abdication his younger brother, Prince Albert of York, became next in line to the throne and his coronation took place in May 1937. He took the name of George VI (reign: 1937-1952), while his wife, Elizabeth, became queen (later more well known under the name the Queen Mum).
The TRC’s memento of George’s coronation in 1937 is a booklet (TRC 2019.1441) of transfer patterns for various types of embroidery. The booklet was produced by J. & P. Coats Ltd., a well known British textile and thread producer that started life in the 18th century in Paisley, Scotland (the Paisley after which the famous paisley motif is named).
The booklet is entitled "Home Journal Royal Embroidery Gift Book” and has the date 1937 on the cover. It contains a series of transfers that relate to the coronation, such as images of soldiers, beefeaters, flags, royal heralds, royal ciphers, Tudor roses, etc., for people to embroider at home.
Coronation embroidery made in London, 1937 (TRC 2019.1743).In addition, we also have a photograph (TRC 2019.1743) of a group of professional embroiderers at work in 1937. The label on the back of the photograph states: "PLA 389996 Coronation embroidery made in London.
Working against time these women are shown stitching embroidery decoration on gowns being finished at Hartnell's London, court dress-maker, for the coronation. Credit Line (ACME) 4/16/37 NY CAN CL." It is not clear if the gowns were to be worn by the new queen, members of the court or guests invited to the coronation, or indeed all three options.
White handkerchief with a crown and "ER 1953 Coronation" in hand embroidery (TRC 2019.1440).Another item is much more modestly decorated and is again a cotton handkerchief (TRC 2019.1440). In one corner of the handkerchief there is a royal crown and "ER 1953 Coronation" in blue, red, yellow and white machine embroidery. It was made as a souvenir of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the daughter of George VI.
Queen Elizabeth died on the 8th September 2022 after the unusually long reign of 70 years, which brings us back to her son, Charles III, and the coronation on the 6th May 2023. One of our TRC colleagues just returned from London with a selection of Charles coronation memorabilia, including bags, t-shirts, tea towels, and even a toddler's outfit. These are currently being added to the TRC Collection and collection data base.
Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, 5 May 2023
Union Jack with a somewhat bewildered looking King Charles (TRC 2023.0680).
