On show for first time, the priceless treasures in Westminster Abbey attic
IT is an array of royal treasures, from the historic to the plain odd, most of which have never been displayed.
And fittingly, the collection will go on show in a part of Westminster Abbey hidden from view for seven centuries.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries were unveiled yesterday ahead of them being opened to the public from June 11.
The 300 treasures being displayed there include Elizabeth I’s corset, the marriage licence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the UK’s oldest stuffed bird.
The leather-trimmed corset – stiffened with whalebone – was used for the Virgin Queen’s funeral effigy, while the parrot belonged to Frances Stuart, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox – a favourite of Charles II. It died in 1702. There are also:
The Liber Regalis, or Royal Book, produced in about 1382 and written on vellum, or calfskin. The illuminated manuscript sets out the order of service for coronations.
The coronation chair used by Mary II when she and William III were crowned in 1689. It bears other marks of history – graffiti, mainly from the 18th century.
Life-size funeral effigies of several monarchs including Henry VII.
The saddle, shield, sword and helmet carried at the funeral of Henry V.
Statues of Henry VII, Elizabeth I and Richard II.
The Westminster Retable, England’s oldest alterpiece.
The galleries are 52ft up in a former attic space used for storage since the 19th century. They are part of the 13th century east triforium, the view from which into the abbey – where all English kings and queens since 1066 have been crowned and 17 are buried – was once described by Sir John Betjeman as ‘the best in Europe’. The £22.9million project was funded by private donors and trusts.