'Crafted in Castleford': Burberry reveals new collection inspired by Queen Elizabeth II's 'iconic wardrobe'
Fashion giant Burberry has created a new capsule collection to mark the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth – including a coat made in Yorkshire.
The firm, which employs hundreds of staff across its Yorkshire manufacturing sites in Castleford and Keighley and its Leeds office, has created four new designs in collaboration with the Royal Collection Trust, a department of the Royal Household.
The collection includes a belted car coat crafted in Castleford.
It has been launched ahead of the largest-ever exhibition of Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion, opening at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace in April, which will feature Burberry designs worn by the late Queen.
A spokesperson for Burberry said: “Burberry was worn by Queen Elizabeth throughout her reign and was awarded a Royal Warrant in 1955. Synonymous with British style, the Queen often chose Burberry for outdoor pursuits – reflecting the brand’s commitment to protecting people from unpredictable weather.
"The new capsule draws inspiration from her iconic wardrobe, expressed through signature outerwear and Scottish-woven cashmere.
"The collaboration honours Burberry’s deep-rooted connection to the outdoors. A preferred style of Queen Elizabeth II, a belted car coat is crafted in Castleford, Yorkshire from lightweight cotton gabardine in holly green, woven with contrasting yarns for an iridescent effect. The main material is certified organic cotton and it has an organic silk lining.
"A new colourway of the iconic Burberry House Check has been created especially for the capsule to honour Queen Elizabeth II. In a holly green palette, the check is inspired by a tartan worn by the Queen, the Old Stewart Tartan. It features on the silk lining of the car coat, on a Scottish-woven cashmere scarf, and at the border of a silk twill scarf printed with a hand-painted depiction of Balmoral Castle – the Highland home of the Royal Family.
“In jewellery, a gold-plated brooch in the shape of a corgi wearing an enamelled check coat is adorned with the Burberry Knight motif on a freshwater pearl.”
The collaboration is available from the Burberry website and in selected stores. It is also being sold through Royal Collection Trust Shops in Edinburgh, London and Windsor and its website.
The forthcoming Buckingham Palace exhibition of Queen Elizabeth’s clothing will include some of her favourite Burberry items.
A spokesperson said: “The Queen often wore Burberry during off-duty moments and for country pursuits, as reflected in the three pieces in the exhibition: a hooded riding cape from around 2010, an original invoice for a Burberry coat ordered in 1966, and a Burberry Check silk scarf from 2013.”
“Featuring approximately 200 items from her personal wardrobe, many on public display for the first time, ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style’ will be the most extensive exhibition of the Queen’s fashion ever presented.”