The Royal School of Needlework and That Wedding Dress

This was the view in Royal Tunbridge Wells, determined their Royal designation would not be found lacking at this time of celebration.

I remember Eva Lotta-Hansson telling us about the shifts of embroiderers from the Royal School of Needlework who worked on the present Queen's Coronation robes. They slept on trestle beds in the workroom and worked around the clock on the embroidering. So it was no surprise at all to learn that the Royal School of Needlework had risen to the occasion again, to embroider Kate's dress for her wedding on Friday. Anne Butcher was one of the embroiderers and she said, "We've all enjoyed the experience. It's a once in a lifetime chance. We've worked as a team and we are pleased with the response to the dress." Helping Anne was Jenny Adin-Christie and Amanda Ewing together with an international team of students from Japan, USA, Switzerland, China, Germany, Slovakia, Thailand and the Netherlands. The lace work (influenced by Irish Carrickmacross lace of the 1820s) on the bodice, which included a series of lace motifs including a rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock to represent England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the veil was undertaken by embroiderers at the Royal School of Needlework aged from 19 to those in their 70s. Hand washing was every half hour to keep the lace and threads pristine and needles were changed every three hours to prevent snagging. Each motif, some as small as a five pence piece, was applied with minute stitches every two to three millimetres. Eventually, I am hoping that this lovely hand-crafted gown will be exhibited for us to admire and take inspiration from.