Ermine, gold and emblems adorn robe

The stunning centrepiece to the King George VI and Elizabeth of Glamis exhibition is the five-and-a-half metre long robe of state worn by the Queen Mother over her Madame Handley Seymour-designed gown on the famous day she and her husband were crowned.

Combining the cape and train, it was woven on handlooms by the Essex firm of Warner and Sons and took 40 embroideresses, working in shifts of 12 at a time, two months to complete.

The heavy purple silk velvet is lined with ermine and features 10 different types of gold thread.

Madame Handley Seymour, who also made the Queen Mother’s wedding gown, incorporated in the design the thistle of Scotland, Tudor rose of England, acorns for the UK, the fern of New Zeland, protea of South Africa and the lotus flower symbolising Elizabeth’s status as the last Empress of India.

Alongside the Earl of Airlie’s outfit for his duties as a page is the uniform of his father, who was Lord Chamberlain to the Queen Mother.