Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on April 21, 1926 to the Duke and Duchess of York. Her family called her Lilibet. Lilibet's great-great-grandmother was Queen Victoria and her uncle Edward was to be the next ruler of England.
Elizabeth was christened in a gown Queen Victoria had made for her first child in 1841. It was designed and sewn by Janet Sutherland, daughter of a Scottish coalminer. Janet was eventually awarded the title of Embroiderer to the Queen for her exquisite work. The baptismal gown was retired in 2004 after being worn by sixty-one royal babies!
Throughout her life, Elizabeth's clothes reflected her position within the royal family and the activities she took part in. Unlike her brothers, Elizabeth and her sister Margaret did not attend school, and were taught by their governess, Marion Crawford. They often wore matching coats, dresses or long gowns when they attended public events.
Throughout her life, Elizabeth's clothes reflected her position within the royal family and the activities she took part in. Unlike her brothers, Elizabeth and her sister Margaret did not attend school, and were taught by their governess, Marion Crawford. They often wore matching coats, dresses or long gowns when they attended public events.
During World War II, Elizabeth's wardrobe was more practical: her clothing was made from cloth purchased with ration coupons and were plain. When she joined the Auxillary Territorial Service, she wore a khaki uniform and even overalls!
When Elizabeth married on November 20, 1947, she had to buy the material for her wedding dress using ration coupons. England, like the rest of Europe was still struggling to recover economically from the war. Her gown was designed by Norman Hartnell and made from Chinese silk embellished with crystals and pearls.
In 1952, her father King George VI died while Elizabeth and her husband were on tour in Kenya. She returned home to be crowned Queen. Once again designer Norma Hartnell crafted her gown, in white satin, decorated with the emblems of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Throughout the decades of her reign, Queen Elizabeth's wardrobe changed somewhat but often did not reflect current trends. She continued to wear a hat, an accessory most women in the early 20th century wore. Today, the Queen continues to wear hats, or scarves when she "dresses down" and loves practical, comfortable clothing.
Throughout the decades of her reign, Queen Elizabeth's wardrobe changed somewhat but often did not reflect current trends. She continued to wear a hat, an accessory most women in the early 20th century wore. Today, the Queen continues to wear hats, or scarves when she "dresses down" and loves practical, comfortable clothing.
Discussion
The Queen's Wardrobe offers not only a biography of Queen Elizabeth II but also some interesting facts about her wardrobe, crown jewels and customs.
Readers are invited into this picture book by the exquisite cover with its gold accents, created digitally by illustrator Kate Hindely. Golding traces each era of Queen Elizabeth's life, focusing on the most important events while describing the clothing she wore during that time. There are plenty of interesting facts sprinkled along the way. For example, about Elizabeth's baptismal gown, Golding writes, "The silk was woven in London, the lace came from Devon, and the gown was designed and sewn by a Scottish coalminer's daughter, Janet Sutherland." Of the Queen's coronation gown Golding writes, "The embroidery alone took the workers 3,500 hours over three months." Golding mentions the designers who created Elizabeth's unique outfits. Of her wardrobe in the 1970's Golding states, "The designer Hardy Amies, who had been making clothes for the Queen since the 1950's, brought some more daring looks into the Queen's wardrobe around this time. He created her two most famous Silver Jubilee outfits: a pink day dress and matching hat with dangling blossoms,and the white beaded gown that appeared on nearly all the souvenirs from that year."
Although illustrator Kate Hindley does a good job of portraying the Queen's outfits using digital media, this picture book would have benefitted greatly from a few photographs of the Queen's more important pieces such as her wedding and coronation gowns.
Nevertheless, The Queen's Wardrobe is a fascinating and informative account of Britain's longest serving monarch. Elizabeth has just reached her Platinum Jubilee, her 70th year as Queen of England.
Book Details:
The Queen's Wardrobe by Julia Golding
London, England: Two Hoots 2021
The Queen's Wardrobe by Julia Golding
London, England: Two Hoots 2021
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