DECLINED INVITATIONS

Since the last update on the exhibition, I have received both bad news and some good news. 

The bad news is that the HRH Duchess of Cornwall is not able to loan the dress she wore at the Blessing Ceremony following her marriage to HRH The Prince of Wales in April 2005, to the exhibition.  The envelope with its distinctive frank arrived in my tray at Doddington Hall.  I can't tell you how I felt when I saw it ... it was a mixture of fear and excitement.  I can now totally understand how members of the public felt when they received letters that I would nonchalantly pop in the postbox during my time working for HRH The Duchess of Kent. 

I just couldn't believe that a simple postmark could bring on hyperventilation!  You will be pleased to hear that I have now regained my composure and whilst disappointed, do understand why the dress will not be coming to Doddington. 

The dress The Duchess wore for the blessing, was a floor-sweeping Guinevere-style coat and dress in porcelain-blue and gold. The Medieval coat, in silk brocade, was cut simply to frame the face and neck, before curving into the waist and then flaring out into a short train which billowed out beautifully in the wind as she and The Prince of Wales emerged on to the steps of St George's Chapel. Underneath was a matching, porcelain blue silk gown, hand-embroidered in gold thread. The ensemble was set off to perfection with a Phillip Treacy creation: a shimmering head-dress of gold ostrich feathers with Swarovski crystal tips.

Thinking about it, if the dress did come to Doddington I would have had to have changed the name to Old, New, Mostly Borrowed and Two Blue .... I already have a blue wedding dress .... mine!!!!

There is one reason I wanted to bring HRH's dress to Lincolnshire.  I won't tell you why at the moment as I don't want to tempt fate but I hope to let you know next week!

The good news is that I had some encouraging information whilst speaking to the Curator of one the stately homes not too far from Lincolnshire.  So, on her advice, I wrote and posted a letter today.  Again I won't tempt fate by telling you too much but will reveal all when I receive a reply!