Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation on June 2, 1953, is one of the most significant moments in recent royal history. The ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey when the queen was just 25-years-old. The coronation was the first of its kind to be televised and captured imaginations across the nation.

The Queen’s coronation was watched by 27 million people in Britain alone and marked the start of a new era for the Royal Family.

Queen Elizabeth II was the 39th sovereign to be crowned in Westminster Abbey and the stunning dress she wore that day has gone down in history.

The Queen’s dressmaker Ian Thomas was one of the minds behind the iconic coronation ensemble and samples of it our now up for grabs at auction.

Mr Thomas was also the designer who came up with the iconic blue outfit the Queen wore to Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s 1981 wedding.

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Following his death in 1993 Mr Thomas left his estate, which included samples of royal outfits he made as well as fashion sketches and signed photographs, to a close friend.

The friend passed away in 2015 and now items left to him by Mr Thomas are due to be sold at auction.

The precious pieces of royal memorabilia include a framed and signed photo of the Queen taken on her Coronation Day, photos of the Queen Mother and Princess Marina.

There are also sketches for some of the famous royal creations that Mr Thomas helped bring to life.

Other items for sale include a tea set given to him by the Queen as well as the Christmas cards she sent him over the years.

The sale will take place at Amersham Auction Rooms on October 31.

Fascinating facts about Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation

• While Ian Thomas helped conceptualise the Queen’s coronation dress, designer Norman Hartnell was the designer who made it.
• The dress was made of white satin and embroidered with the emblems of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in gold and silver thread.

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• Since the Coronation, The Queen has worn the Coronation dress six times including the Opening of Parliament in New Zealand and Australia in 1954.
• Queen Elizabeth II was the sixth Queen to have been crowned in Westminster Abbey in her own right.
• The first was Queen Mary I, who was crowned on October 1, 1553.
• The Queen succeeded to the Throne on February 6, 1952, on the death of her father, King George VI.

• She was in Kenya at the time and became the first Sovereign in over 200 years to accede while abroad.
• The Queen’s grandmother, Queen Mary, aged 81 was the first Queen to see a grandchild ascend to the throne. However, she died before the Coronation took place.
• The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh were driven from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach – pulled by eight grey gelding horses: Cunningham, Tovey, Noah, Tedder, Eisenhower, Snow White, Tipperary and McCreery.

• The Coronation Bouquet was made up of white flowers – comprising of orchids and lilies-of-the-valley from England, stephanotis from Scotland, orchids from Wales, and carnations from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.
• The Duke of Edinburgh wore full-dress Naval uniform for the journey to and from the Abbey. While in the Abbey, he wore a coronet and his Duke’s robe over his uniform.

• Buckingham Palace housemaids, chefs and gardeners gathered inside the Grand Hall at Buckingham Palace to see The Queen leave for Westminster Abbey.

• The Queen’s Coronation service began at 11.15am and lasted almost three hours.

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