During her 70 years of reign, the late Queen Elizabeth II always knew how to stand out thanks to her iconic fashion style. However, the most memorable is still the dress she wore at the coronation ceremony in 1953.

Official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II at the coronation ceremony in 1953. Photo: Royal Collection Trust.

The late Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on June 2, 1953. Along with the splendor and majesty of the big day, the dress she wore made a strong impression and became historical proof when the coronation ceremony of a country’s monarch was broadcast live for the first time in the world.

According to Page Six , the outfit was created by Norman Hartnell, the late leading designer in London (UK) who specialized in serving ladies in the royal family.

The delicately embroidered and beaded white dress created a sparkling visual effect in the solemn setting at Westminster Abbey. More significantly, it is not only designed to help the new monarch shine, but also has important details that demonstrate Queen Elizabeth II’s connection to the mission entrusted to her.

Created by the Queen’s wedding dress designer

Sketch of the coronation dress by Norman Hartnell. Photo: Getty Images.

Queen Elizabeth II wore a dress designed by Norman Hartnell for her wedding to Prince Philip on November 20, 1947. So it’s not surprising that she turned to her favorite fashion expert for her most important occasion as heir to the throne.

According to the Royal Collection Trust , the Queen was presented with nine designs. Finally, she chose the eighth model and made a few more adjustments. She suggests adding embroidery in different colors instead of all silver, which helps increase the uniqueness of the outfit.

Based on the Queen’s request, Hartnell created the final product from white silk with gold beads, diamonds and pearls.

Each pattern on the skirt has meaning

Queen Elizabeth II requested that the emblems of the United Kingdom and the entire Commonwealth be embroidered on the skirt. Photo: Royal Collection Trust.

Royal fashion expert Rosie Harte told Page Six Style Hartnell’s original design featured British symbols, but Queen Elizabeth II felt it wasn’t enough. She requested that the symbols of the countries in the Commonwealth be included.

According to Harte, the original sketch included English roses, Scottish thistles, Irish clover, and Welsh daffodils. The Queen asked Hartnell to change the daffodils to leeks – the national flower of Wales.

“She then asked for all the countries of the Commonwealth to be represented in the embroidery. This move speaks to Queen Elizabeth’s concern, as well as shows her seriousness in taking on the role of monarch and head of state,” Harte said.

Hartnell fulfilled the Queen’s wishes by embroidering symbols onto the hem of her dress, including the Australian acacia tree, Canadian maple leaf, Indian lotus flower and New Zealand fern.

The seal hides a lucky charm

Among the intricate beading on the dress was a symbol that few people noticed, including the Queen.

Harte revealed the designer hid a lucky charm on the dress in the shape of a four-leaf clover.

According to fashion experts, the Irish symbol is located in the area covered by the Queen’s left hand. It was created to bring luck to the wearer, guiding the Queen smoothly to complete a long and complicated series of rituals.

Caroline de Gautaut, the Queen’s deputy curator of works of art, told People it’s possible Queen Elizabeth II didn’t know about the talisman because the symbol represents the designer’s personal thoughts.

Attached cloak

Queen Elizabeth wore a special gown when appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Prince Philip. Photo: Getty Images.

Royal historian Jessica Storoschuk told Page Six Style The Queen commissioned the Royal School of Needlework to decorate the purple gown she wore after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

According to Storoschuk , the sumptuous purple velvet gown was trimmed with Canadian ermine fur and took more than 3,000 hours to make with the gold details.

More than 12 workers worked in shifts from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day for 3 months. The whole group spent more than 3,500 hours completing the shirt.

The Queen re-worn the dress 6 times

The Queen wore her coronation gown to the opening of Parliament in 1954 in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Getty Images.

Although it was created for the coronation, Queen Elizabeth II did not wear it just once.

Lady Pamela Hicks, Prince Philip’s cousin, said the Queen brought the dress with her on her royal tour around the world after her coronation. It even has private rooms.

“The dress needs its own cabin. That cabin is a little bigger than mine. I was quite jealous,” the former royal maid said.

According to the royal family’s website, the Queen wore the dress 6 times after her coronation, including: at the National Assembly in Australia, New Zealand, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1954 and similar events. in Canada four years later.

“By bringing the coronation dress to important events and publicizing it further afield, Queen Elizabeth tries to expand the coronation ceremony to a wider audience,” Harte commented.