King Charles III’s coronation was a truly spectacular event, and everyone couldn’t help but admire Queen Camilla and Princess Catherine (also known as Kate Middleton) in their royal outfits.
The grand occasion was a celebration of British design and craftsmanship at its finest. Queen Camilla wore two different robes during the ceremony, each with a special meaning. Her first robe, made of rich crimson velvet, paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, as it was the same one she wore at her coronation 70 years ago. Expert robe makers at Ede and Ravenscroft had carefully preserved the robe.
Camilla’s classy white coat dress, created by Bruce Oldfield, had a stunning embroidered underskirt decorated with gold and silver floral designs, including daisies. The hem and cuffs of the underskirt featured flower symbols representing the four nations of the United Kingdom.
For the actual coronation ceremony, Queen Camilla donned the Robe of Estate, a magnificent piece hand-embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. This majestic purple velvet robe matched King Charles’s own Robe of Estate. It boasted detailed gold embroidery with the Queen’s cypher, the United Kingdom’s national symbols, and various natural elements. Among the embroidered flowers were the Lily of the Valley, which Queen Elizabeth loved and was part of Camilla’s wedding bouquet, and the Delphinium, a favorite of Charles and the birth flower for Camilla’s birth month of July.
Princess of Wales Kate Middleton dazzled everyone in her gorgeous ivory silk crepe dress by Alexander McQueen. The dress featured silver bullion and embroidery showcasing the United Kingdom’s floral emblems. To complete her look, Kate wore Princess Diana’s pearl and diamond earrings and a headpiece made from silver bullion, crystal, and silver threadwork, designed by Jess Collett and Alexander McQueen.
Cultural historian and royal dress expert Dr. Benjamin Wild remarked that the absence of tiaras during the coronation gave the monarchy a more contemporary feel. He noted that only the King and Queen wore jewel-studded crowns, further highlighting their royal standing.
At her coronation on June 2, 1953, the late Queen Elizabeth II displayed several distinctive garments. Among them, the most memorable was the Coronation Dress crafted by Norman Hartnell, a British designer. The white satin gown showcased detailed embroidery, including floral symbols representing the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth countries. Along with the dress, she wore the St. Edward’s Crown, the Imperial State Crown, and the Robe of Estate—a lengthy, crimson velvet robe featuring a train.
