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British Royals

The Royal Family choose mantles from Orders for the Coronation

The senior members of the Royal Family appeared at Westminster Abbey in their ceremonial Mantles to watch the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

At the request of Their Majesties, the senior royals wore the Mantles of their most senior order.

The Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle, and the Royal Victorian Order were represented by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra.

The Prince of Wales, and the Dukes of Edinburgh, Gloucester, and Kent appeared in their Garter Mantles. Their Mantles are deep blue silk velvet with white satin ribbons, according to Buckingham Palace.

The gold badge on the left side of the Mantle is the heraldic shield of St. George’s Cross. A crimson silk velvet hood hangs over the left shoulder. The Mantle is also lined in white taffeta.

William was created a Royal Knight of the Order of the Garter in 2008, making him the 1000th member. Edward was created in 2006; the Duke of Gloucester in 1997; and the Duke of Kent in 1985.

The Duke of York was also dressed in Garter Mantle, though he was not included in the press release. He was created in 2006.

The Princess Royal sported the Mantle of the Order of the Thistle, the highest chivalry order of Scotland.

The Mantle of the Order of the Thistle is made of deep green silk velvet, with the Star of the Order on its left shoulder. The Star of the Order of the Thistle is a silver St. Andrew’s saltire, clusters of rays, and the motto in the centre. It is also worn with a garter blue velvet hood.

Princess Anne was created an Extra Knight of the Order of the Thistle—notably not an Extra Lady—in 2000.

The Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra all wore the Mantles of the Royal Victorian Order.

All of the royal women wearing these mantles hold the same position within the ranks of the Royal Victorian Order: they are all Dames Grand Cross. Their Mantles featured dark blue silk satin with scarlet edging and white silk taffeta.

The hand-embroidered badge on the right shoulder is a Maltese Cross, and a hood is also attached to this shoulder.

The Princess of Wales was created in 2019; the Duchess of Edinburgh was created in 2010; the Duchess of Gloucester was created in 1989; and Princess Alexandra in 1960.

The non-working members of the Royal Family all appeared in suits and day dresses.

All Mantles were created by Ede and Ravenscroft.

About author

Jess Ilse is the Assistant Editor at Royal Central. She specialises in the British, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Royal Families and has been following royalty since Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. Jess has provided commentary for media outlets in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Jess works in communications and her debut novel THE MAJESTIC SISTERS will publish in Fall 2024.