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A huge red velvet banner sewn with over half a million gold buttons has been made to lead the Diamond Jubilee flotilla
Artist Ann Carrington decorated the banner that will hang from the stern of Royal Barge. The banner is embroidered with over half a million golden buttons and features the Coronation Crown (St. Edward's Crown) flanked by the lion and the unicorn - a reference to British Heraldry and the Royal Coat of Arms.
Ann said it was a "great honour" to have been asked to make the artwork by Her Majesty The Queen to celebrate her diamond Jubilee.
A detail of the Pearly King Buttons
Ann was inspired to decorate the banner with buttons by the tradition of a very different kind of royalty, the Pearly Kings and Queens of London's east end who have been embellishing their magnificent suits with pearl buttons since the mid 19th century. Limited edition prints of the original artwork ‘The Royal Jubilee Banner’ are available from www.anncarrington.co.uk
Around the border, teased from metallic thread, will be all the Coronations from William I in 1066 to Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. Limited edition prints of the original artwork ‘The Royal Jubilee Banner’ are available from www.anncarrington.co.uk