QUEEN’S DRESS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27055, 2 June 1953, Page 7

QUEEN’S DRESS

Symbolic Of Empire

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 1.5 a.m.) LONDON, June L Buckingham Palace today released details of the Queen’s Coronation dress. It will be of white satin, embroidered with emblems of Britain and the Commonwealth. The designer of the dress, Norman Hartnell, said the theme was "embroidered emblems on a lattice of loyalty.” The dress has short sleeves, and a full, flaring skirt, slightly trained. The neckline of the fitted bodice is cut square over the shoulders, and then curves into a heart-shaped centre. The bodice, sleeves, and extreme hem of the skirt are bordered with an embroidered band of golden crystals, graduated diamonds, and pearls. This same embroidered band is repeated thrice across the skirt. It encloses emblems and forms a garland against a latticework background of seed pearls and crystal with which the gown is entirely encrusted. Tlie last problem of the skirt includes every emblem of the Commonwealth, closely surrounding the Tudor rose of England. Roses form a central motif of a mixed bouquet of emblematic flowers, clustered around which are more emblems. The emblems are:— England.— The Tudor rose appears on the short sleeves, embroidered in the palest silk, pearls and gold and silver bullion. Wales.— The leek appears on the first portion of the skirt. The leek flower is embroidered in white silk and diamonds, and the leaves in the palest green silk. Ireland.— The shamrock is shown on the second portion of the skirt, embroidered in soft green silk, silver thread bullion, and diamonds. Scotland.— The thistle is shown on the third portion of the skirt, embroidered in pale mauve silk and amethysts. The calyx is embroidered in green silk, silver thread, and diamond dewdrops. Canada.— A maple leaf in green silk embroideries, bordered with gold bullion thread and veined in crystal. Australia. — Wattle blossom is shown in mimosa-yellow tufts of silk, with the foliage in green and gold thread. New Zealand.— A fern appears in soft green silk, veined with silver and crystal. South Africa.— The protea flower appears in shaded pink silk. Each petal is bordered with silver thread. The leaves are in shaded green silk, and are embellished with rose diamonds. India.— The lotus flower of India appears in mother-of-pearl embroidered petals, with seed pearls and diamonds.

Pakistan.— Wheat, cotton, and jute are shown together. The wheat is in diamonds, with fronds of golden crystal. The jute appears in a spray of leaves of green silk and golden thread, and the cotton blossom in tiny tufts, with stalks of silver and leaves of green silk. Ceylon.— The Ceylonese lotus flower is shown in white sequins, mother-of-pearl, diamonds, and soft green silk.