Elizabeth I’s only surviving dress to go on display

An embroidered altar cloth, which may have been part of a dress worn by Queen Elizabeth I, will go on display for the first time at Hampton Court Place.

The so-called “Bacton Altar Cloth” was discovered in Herefordshire and the curators at Historic Royal Palaces believe that it once formed part of a dress worn by Elizabeth. The silver chamblet silk is embroidered with gold and silver thread and only the highest levels of nobility and royalty were allowed to wear clothes that contained gold and silver.

It is believed to be part of the dress worn in the iconic Rainbow Portrait which will go on display alongside the altar cloth. The portrait is on loan from Hatfield House.

You can see the display from 12 October 2019 until 23 February 2020 and it is included in the standard admission price.