Queen Elizabeth II’s 185-year-old christening gown is set to go on public display for the first time.
The silk gown, which has been worn by 62 royal babies, is partnered with a note written by the late Queen listing members of her family who have worn the garment.
The robe will go on display in April as part of the centenary exhibition Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at the King’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace.
Caroline de Guitaut, the exhibition’s creator, said: “The christening robe was the most significant garment worn by Princess Elizabeth in her infancy and is an exceptional example of British craftsmanship – something Queen Elizabeth went on to champion throughout her life.
“As the earliest piece of clothing worn by the Queen, and by so many royal babies before and after her, it holds a special place in her wardrobe.
“We are delighted to be able to share it with as many people as possible in this centenary year.”
First worn by Princess Victoria, Queen Victoria’s eldest child, for her christening in 1841, the gown has been passed down and worn by numerous generations.
Elizabeth wore the garment at her christening in May 1926, when she was just a month old.
The gown has been worn by 62 royal babies
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Some 200 items will be displayed from April 10, each showing the late Queen’s style through the years.
The robe was created by Queen Victoria’s Scottish dressmaker and embroiderer, Janet Sutherland, and is made of cream Spitalfields silk from East London.
It was repaired in the 1960s, but Elizabeth II retired the garment in 2004, deeming it too delicate.
Angela Kelly, her dressmaker, made an exact replica of the gown using Honiton lace.
Alongside the gown, a list of royal babies who wore the garment has been listed
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It was first worn by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh’s son, James, Viscount Severn, when he was christened in 2008.
Multiple young royals have worn the gown since, including Prince George in 2013, Princess Charlotte in 2015 and Prince Louis in 2018.
Ms Kelly laid out how she created the replica garment in her book, The Other Side of the Coin.
She wrote: “At each stage of the process, I would show our progress to the Queen: first the bodies, then the sleeves attached to it, then the skirt with the under-layers on, and finally the completed robe. Her Majesty was very interested to see how it was developing.”
Prince George wore a replica garment in 2013
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The late Queen’s note records some of the babies who wore the gown, with the Royal Collection Trust (RCT) noting its importance for the Royal Family.
Some 100 hours of conservation treatment have been conducted by Cecilia Oliver, the textile conservator for the RCT.
She said: “The robe has been lovingly cared for over the generations – we even found a note on its box instructing that it be washed in natural spring water after use, which helps explain its remarkable condition despite such frequent use.
“However, after 185 years and 62 christenings, it was in need of conservation. It has been an honour and a privilege to work on such a special historic garment.”
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