Stole Royal (UK)

Detail of the Stole Royal, worn by Queen Elizabeth II of Britain during her coronation in 1953. Detail of the Stole Royal, worn by Queen Elizabeth II of Britain during her coronation in 1953. Royal Collection Trust / @ Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2014. RCIN 31975.

The Stole Royal is a liturgical vestment worn by British monarchs at their coronation. It is worn with the Supertunica (Robe Royal). A stole is a long, narrow length of cloth that is worn around the back of the neck, with the two ends hanging down parallel to each other in the front. The Stole Royal is normally embroidered with gold and silver thread and may be set with jewels and pearls.

The Stole Royal worn by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain (coronated in 1953) is made from gold coloured silk, lined with red tabby-woven silk and with fringed ends. The stole is embroidered with religious, national and Commonwealth emblems in gold and coloured silk threads. The emblems include the crosses of St. Andrew, St. George and St. Patrick, the dove of the Holy Spirit, a crowned eagle, the crossed keys of St. Peter and the symbols of the Four Evangelists (winged angel; winged lion; winged bull and eagle). Emblematic plants include a Tudor rose (England), a leek (Wales), shamrock (Northern Ireland) and thistle (Scotland), as well as the wattle flower (Australia), maple leaf (Canada), lotus (India), fern (New Zealand), cotton, jute and wheat (Pakistan), the protea (South Africa) and another lotus (Sri Lanka). The stole worn by Queen Elizabeth II was presented by the Worshipful Company of Girdlers, London.

See also: British coronation garments

Digital source (retrieved 7 May 2016).

Royal Collection Trust online catalogue (retrieved 26 June 2016).

GVE

Last modified on Monday, 03 October 2016 18:15
Published in Secular ceremonies and rituals
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