Norman Hartnell's 1953 coronation gown for Elizabeth II: white satin, nine designs, the Garter King of Arms refusing the daffodil for the leek, the Welsh Guards' cap badge
Six embroideresses worked on the gown in secret.
The weekly
NewsletterWeeklyOne email a week. Every post from the week, and what didn't fit on a slide.Free. Never shared. Unsubscribe any time.
The post, as it ran
01NORMAN HARTNELL'S 1953 CORONATION GOWN FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II CARRIES A SECRET FOUR-LEAF SHAMROCK.
02THE QUEEN ASKED FOR WHITE SATIN. HARTNELL DREW NINE DESIGNS IN ALL.
03FOR WALES, THE GARTER KING OF ARMS REFUSED HIM A DAFFODIL AND INSISTED ON THE LEEK.
04HARTNELL WORKED HIS LEEK FROM THE CAP BADGE OF THE WELSH GUARDS.
05WITHOUT TELLING HER, HE EMBROIDERED AN EXTRA FOUR-LEAF SHAMROCK ON THE LEFT SIDE, FOR LUCK.