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The Queen’s Coronation 1953 at Buckingham Palace

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“The Queen’s Coronation 1953” display at Buckingham Palace.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

For the first time since Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation Day in 1953, a spectacular Coronation show at Buckingham Palace brought together an array of royal dress, robes, uniform, jewels and diamonds as part of the State Rooms Summer Opening 2013.

“The Queen’s Coronation 1953” exhibition (27 July – 29 September) is celebrating the 60th anniversary of this historic event.  Royal regalia, paintings, photography and recordings recreate the atmosphere of that extraordinary State occasion that has remained essentially unchanged for the past 1,000 years.

The crowning of the Sovereign is an ancient ceremony.  For the last 900 years it has taken place at Westminster Abbey.  Before the Abbey was built, Coronations were carried out at Bath, Oxford, Canterbury, etc.

 

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Dress and the 6,5 metres long Robe.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

The Palace’s Ballroom houses a grandeur and sumptuous display of elaborate gowns and uniforms, worn by the senior royals and The Queen’s Maids of Honour at coronation. The centerpiece of the show is the Queen’s white satin Coronation dress, created by the British couturier Norman Hartnell. The design incorporates an iconographic scheme of embroidered national and Commonwealth floral emblems in gold, silver and pastel-coloured silks, encrusted with crystals, pearls and sequins.

The Dress embroideries were are arranged in three scalloped tiers with a pointed waist. Each tier, together with the edge of the skirt, were embellished with a border of gold bugle beads, diamantes and pearls. The skirt has a slight train and was reinforced with horsehair crinoline – a woven fabric made of a mixture of linen and horsehair. It ensured that the skirt would not lose its shape under the weight of embroideries.


Coronation dress, Coronation State Banquet display & original BBC camera.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

As part of the exhibition this summer, The State Dining Room is dressed to recreate the atmosphere of Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation State Banquets of 3 and 4 June 1953.

Visit Demotix to view more of my photos of  The Queen’s Coronation 1953 exhibition.

 

News and photos by Eugenie Absalom

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The Diamond Recollection Presentation to HM The Queen

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HM The Queen at the JTC Diamond Recollection presentation.  Photo © RCS.

 

2012 has been marked by HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations across the Commonwealth.  The Royal Commonwealth Society marked the jubilee with the world’s largest online history project, called the Jubilee Time Capsule (JTC).  The Capsule represents a collection of videos, photographs, drawings, essays and poems that reflect life in the Commonwealth over the past 60 years.

37, 163 people from 66 countries submitted their memorable moments to the digital archive that will be preserved online as a memory of the Diamond Jubilee year.  Their Royal Highnesses Prince Harry and Princess Eugenie, the Dean of Westminster Dr Hall, BBC presenter George Alagiah, television presenter and a former BBC Royal reporter Jennie Bond, Oscar Pistorius and Richard Branson were among the contributors.

On Wednesday, 14 November HM The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, visited the Royal Commonwealth Society headquarters in London to officially seal the Jubilee Time Capsule and accept the Diamond Recollection of the top 60 contributions into the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle.  12 year old Malawi boy John Samson presented HM The Queen with a gift of a Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 computer tablet, containing the Diamond Recollection, chosen by a panel of judges out of  the 80, 000 entries from across the Commonwealth.

 

Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, The Very Reverend Dr Hall and Pearl Amoateng at the RCS HQ.

 

I submitted 37 contributions to the Jubilee Time Capsule and I was thrilled to find out that one of my memories was chosen to become a part of the Diamond Recollection.  Notting Hill Carnival 2011 followed London riots very closely and there was an atmosphere of uncertainty about this annual August bank holiday event.  But over a million revellers came together to celebrate Europe’s biggest street festival, that has been held in the best traditions of Rio in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea since 1966.

 

Eugenie Absalom next to Notting Hill Carnival 2011 screen at the JTC Diamond Recollection presentation.

 

Notting Hill Carnival is a magnificent British tradition.  It has its roots in the 19th century Caribbean carnivals, celebrating the emancipation of slavery.  And it has high artistic values.  Dance and music are at the heart of the carnival:  Calypso, born in the sugar plantations of Trinidad, steel bands and drummers accompany the 20 mile vibrant procession.  Afro Caribbean community of London, represented particularly by British Trinis, show off their cultural heritage at its best and provide tons of fun for the onlookers.  It is very important to preserve this fascinating event, that combines the spirit of  liberation with a deep rooted theatrical tradition, for generations to come.

 

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The Royal Collection is one of the largest and most important art collections in the world.   It is running more than a million objects and  is held in trust by The Queen as Sovereign for her successors and the nation.

 

News and photos by Eugenie Absalom

 

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Diamond Jubilee Union Flags in Regent Street

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140 Union Flags over Regent Street.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

 

Regent Street was draped in rows and rows of the Union Flag as the country celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  The blue, red and white spectacle stretched for miles down the iconic shopping centre of London’s West End and set up the spirit for celebrations.

 

Union Flags next to BBC.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

Commencing at the BBC building a sky of 140 flags lead to Piccadilly Circus before continuing into Regent Street in the South.

 

Union Flags over Regent Street.  Image © Eugenie Absalom

 

I am not an artist, but this stunning display of Union Flags over Regent Street inspired me to create photography based art works.   Enjoy the Diamond Jubilee in Regent Street!

 

Union Flags over Regent Street.  Image © Eugenie Absalom

 

Jubilee Union Flags in Regent Street in the Diamond Jubilee Time Capsule.

 

Art/ Photo copyright © Eugenie Absalom

 

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The Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving Flypast

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The Diamond Jubilee RAF flypast over Trafalgar Square.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

Soaking rain did not dampen spirits of the Jubilee fans, who cheered the Royal Air Force Thanksgiving flypast in Trafalgar Square on Tuesday, 5 June 2012.

The fly over went ahead in spite of wet weather conditions and marked the climax of the Diamond Jubilee Weekend. It followed the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and the Queen’s carriage procession through the streets of London.

Getting to Trafalgar Square was quite a challenge on Tuesday.  Thousands of fans descended on central London for the final day of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.   The square was blocked on every side when I first tried to get in.  Eventually I made my way through the crowds with umbrellas and I found a suitable spot to watch the ceremony on the giant screen.

A cute pug, wearing Union Jack scarf and chewing a souvenir flag of its owner caught my eye.  I couldn’t resist taking out my camera in spite of the rain.

 

 

Pug dressed appropriately for the occasion.   Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

Suddenly a deafening roaring of engines sent waves of excitement through the crowds.   All heads turned towards the cloudy skies.

The Dakota flanked by two King Air aircraft ahead of the nine Red Arrows were flying over Trafalgar Square.  Red Arrows were leaving a spectacular multi coloured trace behind them.  The formation headed towards the Mall as the Royal Family were watching the flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

18 aircraft flew over the palace.  The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows saluted The Queen on the celebration of her Diamond Jubilee at 3.30 pm.  The Land of Hope and Glory and God Save the Queen in Trafalgar Square echoed a singing tribute to monarch by thousands of fans down the Mall.

 

 

Thanksgiving RAF flypast over Trafalgar Square.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

The Land of Hope and Glory and God Save the Queen in Trafalgar Square echoed a singing tribute to monarch by thousands of  fans down the Mall.

The Queen could be seen on the giant screen smiling and saluting the Royal Air Force flyover.   A soft mint coat dress of silk tulle with an elegant drape and a matching hat, designed by Angela Kelly, Swarovski crystals, pearls and snow white gloves added a fresh touch to the image of Her Majesty.  Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh was missing at the celebrations after being taken to the King Edward VII Hospital from Windsor Castle.

The Prince of  Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry stood next to the  Queen on both sides on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and waved to the crowds as they watched the RAF flypast.

The Duchess of Cambridge looked an epitome of style in a delicate blush overlay lace dress by Alexander McQueen with a matching Nude Beaded Cocktail Hat and subtle veil over her eyes by Jane Taylor.

The Duchess of Cornwall added glamour to the event with a graphic coat by Bruce Oldfield and extravagant Philip Treacy hat.

 

 

The Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving RAF flypast .  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

A celebratory cascade of rifle fire ‘feu de joie’  brought the historic moment to finale with a bang.

Singing in the rain and taking photos of the RAF flypast will certainly stay with me for years to come.

 

The Diamond Jubilee Thanksgiving Flypast in the Diamond Jubilee Time Capsule.

 

News and photos by Eugenie Absalom

Photo Copyright © Eugenie Absalom

 

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The Diamond Jubilee Concert From The Mall

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The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

It was the sea of joy and the best celebration ever outside Buckingham Palace to honour 60 glorious years of Queen Elizabeth II as Monarch on the 4th June 2012.

Thousands gathered outside the Queen’s residence for the Diamond Jubilee Concert, organised by Take That frontman Gary Barlow and performed on the elegant jubilee stage, surrounding the Queen Victoria Memorial.

I was in The Mall, which was covered with blue, red and white Union Flags and outfits as far as the eye could see.   Giant screens in St James’s Park and all along The Mall made it possible for thousands of fans to watch the concert steps away from the palace.  One could move freely down the Mall and enjoy the show from a variety of screens, which I did.

 

Colours of The Mall on The Diamond Jubilee Concert night.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

Rays of descending sun added a finishing touch of glory to the hot party atmosphere that reigned over the star-studded show with the Queen as the guest of honour.  Presenter Rob Brydon kept the crowds warm with  his jokes.  The Jubilee Concert  featured almost every music genre under the sun and became a true celebration of the six decades in music.  It brought together a constellation of knighted music legends like Sir Tom Jones, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Elton John and Dame Shirley Bassey.

Celebrity performers on the night included Robbie Williams, who opened the show with Let Me Entertain You, backed by Cold Stream Guards, Kylie Minogue with Flawless, Annie Lennox wearing Angel wings, extravagant Grace Jones with hula hoops, Alfie Boe, Jools Holland, Jessie J, JLS, classical pianist Lang Lang, Ed Sheeran, Cheryl Cole, Stevie Wonder and pop veterans Madness, who brought the concert to finale with Our House on the roof of Buckingham Palace.  The palace façade represented live canvas at that point with intricate 3Ddesigns created by lasers.  It was a totally unforgettable spectacle, thanks to 600 technicians who worked on the show behind the scenes.

 

The Diamond Jubilee Concert artists.  Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie could be seen on giant screens singing along to popular tunes.

The Queen, dressed in gold colour gown with crystals, arrived mid way through the concert.  It was announced that Prince Philip, the Duke of  Edinburgh was unwell and had been taken to hospital.   Crowds were chanting ‘Philip, Philip, Philip’.

One of the most magic moments of the concert was the premier of a new inspirational piece of music called Sing – the song of tribute to the Queen by distinguished composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and award winning song-writer Gary Barlow with over 200 people on stage.

The Jubilee anthem was performed by the Military Wives choir conducted by Gareth Malone and musicians from across the Commonwealth including the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Band, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Slum Drummers of Kenya and the African Children’s Choir.  For one performance only the Commonwealth band came together and filled the hearts with hope and light with its beautiful singing to the video track, featuring special moments from the life of  Her Majesty.

 

“You brought hope, you brought light
Conquered fear, it wasn’t always easy
Stood your ground, kept your faith
Don’t you see
Right now the world is listening to what we say

Sing it louder, sing it clearer
Knowing everyone will hear you
Make some noise, find your voice tonight
Sing it stronger, sing together
Make this moment last forever
Old and young
Shouting love tonight”

 

The Diamond Jubilee Concert in front of Buckingham Palace. Photo © Eugenie Absalom

 

The proceedings were closed by Her Majesty the Queen, lighting the national beacon outside Buckingham Palace.  Spectacular extended fireworks marked the end of the Diamond Jubilee Concert at 10:30pm.

14.7 million people tuned into the BBC’s coverage of the concert on Monday night.  It was totally overwhelming to  celebrate  the Queen, the country and the Commonwealth with thousands of well wishers in the Mall to crème de la crème of the music world.

 

Visit my  Diamond Jubilee Concert entry to the Diamond Jubilee Time Capsule.

 

News and photos by Eugenie Absalom

Photo Copyright © Eugenie Absalom

 

 

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150th SWA Exhibition, Art Video, Arts and Culture, Beethoven's Silence by Ernesto Cortazar, Celebrities, Diamond Jubilee Time Capsule, Entertainment, Eugenie Absalom News and Photos, Events, HRH Princess Michael of Kent, JTC 2012, Music, Queen's Diamond Jubilee Time Capsule, Royalty

HRH Princess Michael of Kent at 150th SWA Exhibition

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HRH Princess Michael of Kent by Tom Chilton portrait at 150 SWA exhibition. Photo © Eugenie Absalom.

 

Official opening of the 150th SWA Celebratory Exhibition and presentation of Awards by HRH Princess Michael of Kent, the Society of Women Artists Patron, at the Mall Galleries in London.  29th June 2011.

The SWA exhibition featured over 500 works in a variety of media – paintings, sculpture along with original prints, etchings and ceramics by professional women artists.  A retrospective show in the East Gallery celebrated the work of prominent women artists who played an important role in the development and life of the society, including Dame Laura Knight.

 

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HRH Princess Michael of Kent at the 150th SWA Exhibition video.

 

“We have come a long way since the mid 1800s when it was viewed as quite outrageous for ladies to publicly show their art work! Our metamorphosis is now complete and this year we celebrate at the splendidly refurbished Mall Galleries,” said Barbara Penketh Simpson, the former President of the Society of Women Artists. “The Society, with its unique history, is constantly developing as a diverse, vital, and forward looking organization seeking to promote talented women artists.”

 

 

Artist Arina Gordienko (ARINA) by her Self-Portrait at the SWA exhibition. Photo © Eugenie Absalom.

 

 

I learnt about the exhibition from one of participating artists, Arina Gordienko (ARINA), who’s striking “Self Portraits in Colours” could hardly be missed by visitors.  ARINA shared her experience: “I am really honoured to be a part of the Society of Women Artists exhibition. I became a full member of the society in 2010. This is the 4th time my paintings have been displayed at the Annual exhibition of the Society of Women Artists at the Mall Galleries. And I am always thrilled and I really enjoy the creative atmosphere of the event. This year’s 150th Anniversary of the Society of Women Artists was opened by HRH Princess Michael of Kent and it was particularly magnificent with a fabulous variety of genuinely talented works by women artists from all over the world.”

 

HRH Princess Michael of Kent at 150th SWA Exhibition at the Mall Galleries –

– my entry to the Diamond Jubilee Time Capsule of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

View my photographs of HRH Princess Michael of Kent at the 150th SWA Exhibition on Demotix

 

 

Text and Camera by Eugenie Absalom
Photo and Video Copyright © Eugenie Absalom

 

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