Just Wondering What Has Happened To The Late Queen's Wardrobe?

I read sometime after her death that her iconic pieces were being kept for historical reasons to be used for exhibitions and museums.
Some pieces probably ballgowns will be refashioned for other members of the Royal family who can also choose any other pieces they wish to have.
Remaining things will be auctioned off for charities.

I thought I read that her close ladies in waiting could choose something from her collection of outfits.

This reminds me of the reason we have so few gowns from Elizabeth 1st. Anne of Denmark, wife of James 1, stripped all her state gowns of the jewels and expensive trimmings - no doubt re-using or distributing what was left. Sensible.

A couple of families are living in it.

I’ve often wondered what happens to all their clothes.
You rarely see them in the same outfit twice.
There must be a warehouse full of clothes and accessories somewhere.

It was common practice in earlier centuries to remove the very costly adornments on wealthy people's clothing when they no longer wanted to wear it: jewels, lace, fur, embroideries, and other things were all removed. Often the dress was taen apart and the fabric reused.

I recently read a very intersting book about Mary, Queen of Scots, called Embroidering her truth by Clare Hunter that went into great detail over the re=use of garments and embellishments by high status individuals.

Boz

This reminds me of the reason we have so few gowns from Elizabeth 1st. Anne of Denmark, wife of James 1, stripped all her state gowns of the jewels and expensive trimmings - no doubt re-using or distributing what was left. Sensible.

I think it’s rather sad that such fascinating history is destroyed like this. Same as Christopher Wren demolishing much of the Tudor Hampton Court Palace in order to build the ‘new’ one. That part of the original fortunately remains is sheer luck because the money ran out before the new build could be completed.

Princess Anne is a great recycler, I've just read. Apparently she is still wearing clothes she wore in her 20s. When someone asked her why, she said 'because I'm mean'.

Susiewong65

I’ve often wondered what happens to all their clothes.
You rarely see them in the same outfit twice.
There must be a warehouse full of clothes and accessories somewhere.

I disagree. You do see them in the same clothes, granted they have quite a lot so you don’t see them constantly.

Anne is well known for recycling her clothes and Catherine seems to be getting the same idea.

*FoghornLeghorn. Butit isn't history when it is done.

During and just after WW2 my mother - and grandmother would take clothes apart, unravel sweaters etc to make new clothes.

In the middle ages when the cost of fur, lace, embroidery and jewels was relatively far, far more expensive than now and when kings and aristocrats were expected to dress the part, many could only affod it by using and re-using and re-re-using. It applied at every level of society.

As recently as the early 20th century lace collars, cuffs and fichus would only be tacked on to garments, so they could be washed but also so they could be kept and used again on other garments. I have several sets of lace collars and cuffs that belonged to my grandmother.

I wish I could find a photo on the internet of Queen Elizabeth in a dress I think designed by Angela Kelly. It looked like a material with some stretch, shift shaped, light coloured with could be gold threads through and with pockets. And she was laughing as she had her hands in her pockets which she had never done in a photo before.

It was the most relaxed photo from her later years and made her look so youthful. I must continue to Google. I would like to think Anne would be wearing it now.

And I have seen very little news of where Angela Kelly is now. The late Queen certainly seemed more comfortable in her designs. I expect the formal clothes will be on display in years to come.

www.tatler.com/article/the-queen-poses-hands-in-pocket-portrait-angela-kelly-book

Angela Kelly moved out of her grace and favour house at Windsor to a house in the pek district last summer.

Presumably she is now enjoying a quiet retirement.

Thank you V3ra. That's the picture. So relaxed and it looks a comfortable dress to wear.
I should think there is a whole floor called QE2 Wardrobe at Buckingham Palace with a team of staff busy curating it.

Do any GNs wear items of parents' clothing? Would my daughters wear mine I wonder.

I like this top which was my Mum's.
I also have several pairs of her Hotter shoes!

M0nica

*FoghornLeghorn. Butit isn't history when it is done.

During and just after WW2 my mother - and grandmother would take clothes apart, unravel sweaters etc to make new clothes.

In the middle ages when the cost of fur, lace, embroidery and jewels was relatively far, far more expensive than now and when kings and aristocrats were expected to dress the part, many could only affod it by using and re-using and re-re-using. It applied at every level of society.

As recently as the early 20th century lace collars, cuffs and fichus would only be tacked on to garments, so they could be washed but also so they could be kept and used again on other garments. I have several sets of lace collars and cuffs that belonged to my grandmother.

It is amusing to think of Queen Elizabeth reusing clothes like we did. I had winter coats which were turned inside out and re- made and jumpers unraveled and re knitted into socks.
I am presently re using lace collars and cuffs made by my MIL to decorate cushion covers.Also little spare samples of material from my children's clothes have been made into a patchwork memory cushion.

You would hope all stored and archived and then curated for an exhibition - a lot of it would be underwhelming close up but a lot from her younger days had the wow factor. Also it’s all the associated events when she wore them as the back story

I thought it rather mean that Angela Kelly had to move out of her Grace and Favour property. From what I have read she was very close to the Queen and I think Charles could have allowed her to see her days out in that property.

She choose not to retire there

images.app.goo.gl/P8wU9hsTzvm5fgRD8

This! images.app.goo.gl/962t2fCooWKmeFZo7

I hope some of it is exhibited at some point. Some years ago I went to an exhibition of the Queen’s clothes at BP. Not only were there her wedding and coronation dresses but many of the clothes we had seen her in throughout her life. The ball gowns from her younger days were exquisite, covered in beads and jewels and with such tiny waists. You could clearly see where the Angela Kelly influence started as the outfits, particularly the daywear were much more elegant and stylish than previously.

M0nica

It was common practice in earlier centuries to remove the very costly adornments on wealthy people's clothing when they no longer wanted to wear it: jewels, lace, fur, embroideries, and other things were all removed. Often the dress was taen apart and the fabric reused.

I recently read a very intersting book about Mary, Queen of Scots, called Embroidering her truth by Clare Hunter that went into great detail over the re=use of garments and embellishments by high status individuals.

M0nica:

Wow .. What an interesting book .. I would love to read it ..

Thank you for mentioning it.

Have a lovely day.