This is London Magazine March Edition 2026 - Flipbook - Page 25
HISTORIC CORONATION ARMOUR
UNVEILED AT TOWER OF LONDON
Millions of annual visitors to the Tower
of London will be able to view a unique
piece of Britain’s royal ceremonial history
– the armour worn by the King's
Champion at the last coronation banquet
where the ancient tradition was performed.
The Royal Armouries has acquired the
Maximilian-style armour, dating from
around 1520, with funding from the
National Heritage Memorial Fund. It is the
only armour confirmed to have been worn
by a champion at a British coronation.
The armour was worn by 20-year-old
Henry Dymoke at George IV's coronation
in 1821. The King's Champion rode into
Westminster Hall in full armour,
throwing down his gauntlet three times
and challenging anyone who disputed
the new monarch's right to the throne.
The Dymoke family has held the
hereditary role since 1377. Most
recently, Francis Dymoke carried the
Royal Standard at the coronation of King
Charles III in 2023 and his son Henry
Dymoke continues this tradition as the
current King’s Champion.
Before reaching Britain, the armour
had a remarkable journey. It was seized
from a Bavarian castle by Napoleon's
troops in 1800 and sold in Paris
following Napoleon's exile, before being
displayed in London.
The armour will join other historic
and royal armours on display in the
White Tower, within the Tower of
London, where the Royal Armouries
welcomes around 1.7 million visitors
each year.
Nat Edwards, Director General and
Master of the Armouries said: ‘It’s
wonderful that, thanks to the generosity
of the National Heritage Memorial Fund,
we can bring such an important part of
our heritage back to the Royal Armouries'
ancient home at the Tower of London.
This armour now sits, quite fittingly, here
at the heart of our national story - not just
as a beautiful example of the armourer’s
craft but as a tangible symbol of the
peaceful transfer of power. It’s a privilege
our country holds that we should never
take for granted and we are privileged to
be able to help share that story with
visitors from across the world.’
2025 Linbury Prize Exhibition.
THE EDWARDIANS: AGE OF
ELEGANCE AT HOLYROODHOUSE
A glamorous, never-before-exhibited
portrait of Queen Mary and a miniature
sleigh made of rock crystal will be
among highlights on show in Scotland
for the first time in a major exhibition
opening this spring.
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance
explores the glitzy world of two of
Britain’s most fashionable royal couples
– King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra,
and King George V and Queen Mary –
through their family connections, royal
events, global travels and art collecting.
The exhibition will open in Edinburgh
following a successful run in London
and is the first Royal Collection Trust
exhibition to explore the Edwardian era.
THE FUTURE OF STAGE DESIGN:
THE LINBURY PRIZE EXHIBITION
The Linbury Prize Exhibition,
showcasing the fresh creative voices
shaping the future of stage design, is
now open to the public.
Found in the Lyttelton Lounge at the
National Theatre, the free exhibition
features the work of the twelve recipients
of the 2025 Linbury Prize for Stage
Design. The exhibition includes model
boxes, costumes and design sketches,
providing a platform for these emerging
stage designers to showcase their work
before the public and industry-wide
professionals.
Photo: Rory Murphy
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