King Edward VII & Queen Alexandra’s 1902 Coronation

Step into the splendour of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra’s 1902 Coronation at Westminster Abbey, which ushered in a golden age of style and glamour for the royal family. In a striking departure from British tradition, Edward commissioned two gilded thrones from the French firm Carlhian and Baumetz, which have since been on display in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace. Go behind the scenes with our conservators and learn how embroidered areas of loss were carefully consolidated with Japanese tissue paper, and how gilders delicately retouched areas of exposed gesso to preserve their historicity. Queen Alexandra also turned heads by commissioning a dazzling gold silk gown by French couturier, Morin Blossier. Explore the gown’s Tudor-inspired features and the delicate silk-thread repairs that have been made to the fragile net overlay. 

Watch our film to discover how the royal couple set new trends that shaped Edwardian fashion and taste.