The Coronation has put UK fashion and textiles in the spotlight, highlighting talent and skills within our vibrant sector.

The Royal family has always been closely connected with supporting the UK fashion and textile industry from sheep to shelf, but this coronation presented a unique opportunity for His Majesty to showcase the industry at the ceremony which was beamed into millions of TV screens around the world.   

His Majesty The King is a passionate advocate of Wool and British Wool in particular and is the global Patron of the Campaign for Wool. HRH The Princess Royal is President of UKFT and both the British Royals and many of their international guests went out of their way to support British textiles and brands at events around the coronation.   

On Tuesday 9th May, UKFT’s Director of Skills and Training John West was delighted to attend the Coronation Garden Party at Buckingham Palace with his wife Victoria.    

At the Garden Party, John was presented to HRH The Princess Royal, President of UKFT, where he was able to give her an update on UKFT’s work around training and apprenticeships to support the UK manufacturing industry. 

Read on to find out more about the significant role that the UK fashion and textile industry played in the Coronation. 

HRH The Princess Royal, John and Victoria West. Coronation Garden Party, Buckingham Palace, 9th May 2023.

The Coronation Anointing Screen 

The screen used during the most sacred moment of the Coronation, the Anointing of His Majesty The King, was the fruit of a unique collaboration of UK textile manufacturers. His Majesty has long been a staunch supporter of the heritage craft skills throughout the UK, which were showcased in the combination of traditional craft with contemporary skills and techniques used to design and manufacture the screen.  

Several UKFT members were actively involved in the making of the Anointing screen. AW Hainsworth in Guiseley wove, spun, and dyed the wool used in the design. The appliqué wool fabrics were woven by Camira Fabrics in Huddersfield and John Spencer Textiles in Hurley.  

Read more:

UK textile manufacturers unite for Coronation Anointing Screen 

Credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire, 2023.

Her Majesty Queen Camilla’s Coronation dress

UKFT Member Stephen Walters created and wove the silk fabric used in Her Majesty Queen Camilla’s Coronation dress. The Peau de Soie silk fabric was woven in Sudbury, for renowned designer Bruce Oldfield as a plain fabric and was embroidered, with garlands of wildflowers.  

This use of silk fabric for the Queen’s Coronation dress continues a long tradition of Royal commissions for Stephen Walters. In 1952, the company wove the lining fabric for the late Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation robe and wove the gown for King Charles’ investiture in 1969. They also provided the silk fabric used for HRH The Princess Royal’s wedding dress in 1973 and for Princess Diana’s wedding dress in 1981.  

Managing director Julius Walters said:

“It is an honour to continue our tradition of weaving fabrics for historic Royal occasions and collaborating with world renowned British designers.” 

Diamond Jubilee State Coach’s Interior Fabric

The jacquard-woven gold silk brocade interior fabric used in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach for His Majesty’s procession was designed and woven by David Walters. It includes the British national emblems: the rose, thistle, leek and shamrock. The coach was used on 6th May 2023 by Their Majesties on the way to the Coronation at Westminster Abbey. Originally, the coach was made to commemorate the 60th anniversary of late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign in 2012. 

Credit: David and Stephen Walters, 2023.

Interior upholstery of the Gold State Coach

UKFT member Humphries Weaving supplied crimson duchess satin for the interior upholstery of the Gold State Coach, used by Their Majesties after the Coronation as part of the procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.  

The coach has been used at every Coronation since 1831, including at the late Queen’s Coronation in 1953. It now features rich crimson upholstery inside the carriage, including velvet, deep button duchess satin and trimmed with carriage lace.  

In addition, Humphries Weaving has continued the proud Royal weaving tradition of East Anglia by supplying pure silk damask for the Chairs of Estate upholstery used during the early parts of the Coronation service and for the Coronation of Her Majesty the Queen Consort. 

Gold State Coach, Coronation of Kings Charles III, 2023.

Guard uniforms and guest outfits

Outside of the formal parts of the Coronation, there are plenty of opportunities for UK textile mills and manufacturers to show off their trades. Samuel Brothers made many of the uniforms for the Royal Household and AW Hainsworth produced a large amount of the fabrics used in various livery and guard uniforms.

Furthermore, many British and international guests wore UK brands and textiles for the Coronation. Queen Letizia wore a Victoria Beckham dress at Buckingham Palace, while Dame Emma Thompson wore a coat by British designer Emilia Wickstead and Pippa Middleton chose a coat dress by Shrewsbury-based designer Claire Mischevani for the ceremony.  

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