08-05-2025
How 10,000 tiny pearls were secretly brought to the UK for Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress
In the wake of World War II, the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten brought a sense of hope and renewal to a weary nation.
On November 20, 1947, the couple exchanged vows at Westminster Abbey in front of 2,000 invited guests, while thousands more lined the streets of London to witness the grand occasion.
The ceremony marked the beginning of what would become the longest royal marriage in British history.
Princess Elizabeth was the tenth member of the Royal Family to marry at the Abbey - a venue steeped in personal significance.
It was there that her father, King George VI, was crowned 11 years earlier, and where she herself would be crowned just five years after her wedding.
For her bridal gown, Elizabeth turned to British couturier Norman Hartnell, who submitted 12 designs. One was approved in mid-August, less than three months before the ceremony.
With wartime rationing still in effect, the dress was paid for using clothing coupons. In a heartfelt show of support, people from across the country sent the Princess their own coupons to contribute, though these were returned.
Inspired by Botticelli's Primavera, the gown was crafted from duchesse satin sourced from Dunfermline and spun from silkworms imported from Nationalist China.
It was adorned with thousands of pearls and embroidered with motifs symbolising post-war rebirth - roses, jasmine blossoms and ears of wheat - all stitched in silver and gold thread produced at Lullingstone Castle and woven by Warner & Sons.
According to Hugo Vickers in his book Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, Hartnell's manager imported 10,000 tiny pearls from the United States, declared them at customs, and paid the duty.
The gown featured a 13-foot silk tulle train attached at the shoulders, and Hartnell secretly included a four-leaf clover on the left side of the skirt, so the Princess' hand could rest upon it during the ceremony.
Hartnell carried the same delicate aesthetic into the bridesmaids' dresses, worn by Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Margaret Elphinstone, Pamela Mountbatten, and Diana Bowes-Lyon.
He also designed outfits for key royal women, including an apricot brocade ensemble for Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) and a gold and blue chenille gown for Queen Mary.
The bride's footwear - ivory satin sandals - was imagined by Hartnell and made by Rayne, with silver buckles studded with tiny pearls to match the dress.
Due to enormous public interest, Hartnell had his Bruton Street premises whitewashed and curtained to maintain secrecy during the gown's production.
For her 'something borrowed,' Princess Elizabeth wore the Queen Mary Fringe Tiara.
After the ceremony, members of the Royal Family joined the bride and groom on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Originally a Collingwood necklace gifted to Queen Mary by Queen Victoria in 1893, it was later transformed into a diamond fringe tiara by Garrard in 1919.
On the wedding day, the tiara snapped as it was placed on Elizabeth's head. A jeweller from Garrard swiftly repaired it and it was returned to the Princess by police escort.
As a result of the rushed repair, a small gap remained between the centre fringe and the adjacent spike - an imperfection visible in photographs from the day.
Completing her bridal ensemble were two pearl necklaces - the Queen Anne and Queen Caroline designs - gifts from her father, King George VI.
The entire event was recorded and broadcast by BBC Radio to a global audience of 200 million listeners, making it one of the most significant public events of the post-war era.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's wedding was more than a royal celebration - it was a moment of unity and national pride, signifying a new chapter for both the monarchy and the country.
