Curiosities about Elizabeth II's wedding dress.
For just over a century, the dresses worn by princesses, duchesses, and queens of the remaining royal houses have been admired around the world. From those notable for their opulent materials and embellishments to those reflecting a simple design in keeping with modern times.
Today we'll talk about the dress worn by one of the most beloved queens in history, Elizabeth II, who remains the representative of the English crown. A woman with a rather impressive and interesting list of curiosities, including being a certified truck driver and military mechanic, roles she performed during World War II.
Years in which she attracted the spotlight for various aspects of her wedding to Prince Philip of Edinburgh. The first important point about this union is that it was the first post-war royal wedding, so the amount of money available for the ceremony and protocol events was limited.
Secondly, the increasing number of televisions in homes would lead to the event being broadcast not only in England but also around the world, forcing the organizers to maximize the value of their limited budget to match the standard of a royal wedding.
Between flowers and pearls
All of this brings us to the central topic: the dress and the interesting details behind its making. Unlike the garments worn by Elizabeth II's predecessors, this one wasn't purchased from the treasury; instead, the then princess saved part of her ration checks to cover the cost of the garment.
An act that would mark the beginning of a rapprochement between the royal family and the English people, resulting in several donations from the public to raise the money needed for the dress. These donations would be returned out of courtesy and a demonstration of the future queen's determination.
The design was carried out by Norman Hartnell, a renowned designer of the time, and by a team of several dozen seamstresses. Upon completion, Hartnell himself described it as "the most beautiful dress he had ever made."
The fabric used was silk satin from China, upon which various embroideries were applied, depicting flowers native to the different locations in the United Kingdom. The idea was inspired by the painting "Primrose" by Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli and enhanced with crystals and pearls imported from the United States, adding shine to the magnificent garment.
A stunning gown with an elegant design, it was showcased before more than 2,000 guests, including the seamstresses who made it—an unprecedented event—and more than 200 million viewers on the BBC.
Today we'll talk about the dress worn by one of the most beloved queens in history, Elizabeth II, who remains the representative of the English crown. A woman with a rather impressive and interesting list of curiosities, including being a certified truck driver and military mechanic, roles she performed during World War II.
Years in which she attracted the spotlight for various aspects of her wedding to Prince Philip of Edinburgh. The first important point about this union is that it was the first post-war royal wedding, so the amount of money available for the ceremony and protocol events was limited.
Secondly, the increasing number of televisions in homes would lead to the event being broadcast not only in England but also around the world, forcing the organizers to maximize the value of their limited budget to match the standard of a royal wedding.
Between flowers and pearls
All of this brings us to the central topic: the dress and the interesting details behind its making. Unlike the garments worn by Elizabeth II's predecessors, this one wasn't purchased from the treasury; instead, the then princess saved part of her ration checks to cover the cost of the garment.
An act that would mark the beginning of a rapprochement between the royal family and the English people, resulting in several donations from the public to raise the money needed for the dress. These donations would be returned out of courtesy and a demonstration of the future queen's determination.
The design was carried out by Norman Hartnell, a renowned designer of the time, and by a team of several dozen seamstresses. Upon completion, Hartnell himself described it as "the most beautiful dress he had ever made."
The fabric used was silk satin from China, upon which various embroideries were applied, depicting flowers native to the different locations in the United Kingdom. The idea was inspired by the painting "Primrose" by Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli and enhanced with crystals and pearls imported from the United States, adding shine to the magnificent garment.
A stunning gown with an elegant design, it was showcased before more than 2,000 guests, including the seamstresses who made it—an unprecedented event—and more than 200 million viewers on the BBC.
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