Suffolk silk

Jun 02, 2023

A family-owned silk maker has said it was an "honour" to provide the fabric that was used in the Queen Consort's dress during Saturday's coronation ceremony.

Camilla wore a couture dress cut from Peau de Soie, a silk fabric with a dull lustre finish, that was woven by Stephen Walters & Sons, based at Sudbury Silk Mills.

Her ivory, silver and gold embroidered dress was created by British designer Bruce Oldfield, who has long been a client of the Suffolk-based company.

The silk being produced at Sudbury Silk Mills (Image: Stephen Walters)

Camilla's dress featured a nod to her romance with her husband King Charles, containing motifs of daisy chains, forget-me-nots, celandine and scarlet pimpernel from fields and hedgerows.

The symbols were chosen to represent the couple's shared love for nature and the nation's countryside.

This is not the first time Stephen Walters has provided the materials used for a dress worn on a special royal occasion.

The firm wove the lining fabric for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation robe in 1953 and wove the gown for the then-Prince Charles’ investiture in 1969.

It also produced the silk for the wedding dresses of Princess Anne in 1973 and for Princess Diana in 1981.

Stephen Walters sales director Ceri Yates revealed the company was approached about Camilla's dress several months ago, with the news having to be kept under wraps.

Camilla after she was crowned in Saturday's ceremony (Image: PA)

She said: "Bruce Oldfield is one of our clients. He has a long history with the royals and has used us for a long time, so it was natural, really.

"He wants to work with us as we collaborate with people to really bring their designs to life.

"It was top secret – there were just a few people here who knew. But it's wonderful now that it's out."

Julius Walters, managing director of Stephen Walters, said: "It is an honour to continue our tradition of weaving fabrics for historic royal occasions and collaborating with world renowned British designers."