A trio of Irish designers may have starring roles in the upcoming coronation of Britain’s King Charles III in London on May 6 …
Northern Irish event florist and royal warrant holder SHANE CONNOLLY has form, having designed the flowers for the wedding of The Prince and Princess of Wales. Given his sustainability credentials and love of symbolism, he may be commissioned to decorate Westminster Abbey. Delphiniums, Charles’s favourite blooms might make an appearance, as may Camilla’s – the dainty yellow and green Alchemilla mollis.
Also madly in love with flowers, pageantry and royalty, Irish designer RICHARD QUINN has made no secret of his desire to dress the Princess of Wales. His SS23 collection was inspired by The Secret Garden – both the novel and the 1933 film. Though we can’t see Kate in his cocoon dresses or fetishised latex, one of his softly ruffled gowns in discreet florals (with matching gloves and cape) would suit the occasion.
No doubt, milliner PHILIP TREACY will have been busy designing statement headwear for guests. (For the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex he created hats for 20 of the guests.)
At Claridge’s in Mayfair, where Coronation Archive windows are in situ, you can have a drink in new bar The Painter’s Room – designed by another Irish man, BRYAN O’SULLIVAN – where the cocktail list reflects Charles’s love of his garden at Highgrove.
Irish accessory designer RORY HUTTON has designed a trio of silk scarves for the occasion – one of which is “Highgrove”. Restorative gardens are set to take centre stage at RHS Chelsea Flower Show (May 23- 27) where gardens will this year be judged on their eco-friendly credentials.
Garden designer TOM HOBLYN has borne this in mind for the Boodles’ Best of British Garden. Hoblyn, inspired by Pre-Raphaelite woodlands, has designed a glade-like garden with an arbour over which grows a gorgeous double-flowering rambling rose Félicité Perpetué, while grasses, sedges and perennials surround a Raindance pool. This pool takes its name from Boodles’ iconic Raindance collection, which has been extended to include a new suite of pretty necklaces, rings and bracelets to mark the collaboration. Lovers of the Pre-Raphaelites should also make time for “The Rossettis” exhibition at The Tate, which runs until September 24.
