The Queen was presented with a fan that she is seen holding in her official Coronation portrait. She described it as beautiful and mentioned she would reserve it for special occasions. The fan was specially commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers, for which Queen Camilla serves as a patron. Although depicted holding the fan in her portrait, she had not seen it before, as she had posed with one of her personal fans for the artist, Paul Benney.
The presentation of the Coronation fan took place at the Fan Museum in Greenwich, South East London, where the Queen expressed her admiration, saying, “Oh that’s really beautiful, that’s lovely, thank you very much.” Artist Paul Benney detailed the intricate design of the fan, which included the Queen’s favorite wild flowers, such as delphiniums, alliums, and lavender, along with elements like the monarch butterfly and her star constellation. The Queen was so impressed that she stated, “It’s so beautiful, I shall save it for special occasions.”
Both the King and Queen’s official Coronation portraits were unveiled at the National Gallery on the second anniversary of the Coronation. The Queen expressed her love for her portrait, while the King praised the composition of his painting by artist Peter Kuhfeld.
As an Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers, the Queen met with Paul Benney to officially open the Monarchy exhibition at the Fan Museum, showcasing fans from the 18th century to the present. She also lent two fans from her personal collection to the exhibition.
The Coronation fan, designed by Paul Benney and made by France’s Master Fan Maker, Frederick Gay, was presented to the Queen by the Master of the Guild. The Duchess of Gloucester, also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers, witnessed the presentation.
During a tour of the exhibition with the Duchess, the Queen admired various fans, including one believed to have belonged to Queen Victoria. The Queen also engaged in conversations with dignitaries and museum staff, expressing her delight at being able to visit the museum.
The Fan Museum is dedicated to the history, culture, and craftsmanship of hand fans. The Queen was welcomed by dignitaries upon her arrival, including the Deputy Lieutenant of Greenwich and trustees of The Fan Museum.
She expressed the importance of promoting heritage crafts, such as fan-making and sporans, during her visit. The Queen enjoyed a private conversation with Helene Alexander, the museum’s founder, emphasizing her joy at being able to visit the museum once again.