What You Didn't Know About Queen Elizabeth's Coronation Dress

As King Charles's coronation fastly approaches, secrets about his late mother's coronation dress are revealed. The late Queen Elizabeth II has always been admired for her distinct fashion sense — taking on bold choices even as the head monarch. Her coronation day dress in 1953 was no different. As the crown was being placed atop her head, the momentous occasion was not only remembered for the crowning, but Queen Elizabeth stunned in her gorgeous white gown.

The dazzling gown included intricate embroidery and beadwork that shimmered in person and on-screen as the event was the first-televised coronation ceremony. The sophisticated gown was one-of-a-kind, with its complex detailing, sweetheart neckline, and voluminous skirt — though there was more to the dress than what first met the eye. Per Page Six, never-before-known secrets about Queen Elizabeth's coronation have been brought to light, just in time in anticipation of the crowning of her son.

The first of these secrets is that she re-wore the dress six times. Traditionally, a gown for such an occasion would be for one-time use, however, Queen Elizabeth challenged such a notion by proving otherwise. While on her post-coronation royal tour, her majesty brought the dress with her as she traveled the world. Locations where Queen Elizabeth II wore the dress include Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon), and Canada.

Perhaps why this gown held such a special place in the Queen's heart, beyond it being her coronation dress, is that the gown included a hidden good luck charm. On the skirt was a secret good luck charm in the form of a four-leaf clover. The Irish symbol sits "just at the spot where Elizabeth's left hand would have covered it," Rosie Harte, a royal fashion expert, told Page Six. Harte continued, explaining that the good luck charm was created "to bring [the designer] and the dress good fortune with the press, and to help guide the Queen through the very long and complicated ceremony."

The hidden good luck charm wasn't the only clever detail added to Queen Elizabeth's coronation dress. On a more noticeable note, the gown included symbols of both the UK and the Commonwealth. Originally, the dress was designed only to highlight UK emblems, however, Queen Elizabeth requested the dress be modified to provide representation of the Commonwealth nations. Some of the added Commonwealth emblems include the Australian wattle, Canadian maple leaf, Indian lotus, and New Zealand fern.

"[Queen Elizabeth] asked [the designer] to switch the Welsh daffodil for a leek, which is their official flower, and then she asked for all of the Commonwealth nations to be represented in the embroidery," Harte said. “[This modification] speaks to the attentiveness of Elizabeth, and how seriously she took her role as monarch and head of state."