As we approach the historic Coronation of King Charles III, we have loved seeing all the installations decorating Great Britain. From florals and flags to light displays, locations all over the country are prepping for the celebrations. One of the most striking and our favourites has been from The Dorchester. Recreating their incredible celebration of the last coronation over 70 years ago with a timeless design from one of the country's most notorious designers, this look is filled with nods to history.
Discover insight into this beautiful design with an exclusive interview from Director of Events, Laura Prentice, who personally oversaw the installation from start to finish…
1. What does it mean to The Dorchester to re-create the iconic Coronation installation?
To The Dorchester, re-creating the iconic Coronation installation holds great historical significance and pride for the hotel and we feel the perfect way to honour HM The King. As one of the hotels that were open during the 1953 Coronation of HM The Queen, it was a privilege to play a part in this historic moment.
At the time The Dorchester’s decorations were considered to be the best in London, so we really wanted to rise to the occasion and are thrilled to pay homage to it by reimagining the iconic installation by Oliver Messel. It is a testament to the hotel's commitment to celebrating its rich history with the Royal family.
2. How do you think Oliver Messel’s designs have remained so timeless over the years?
Oliver Messel's designs have remained iconic over the years because of his unique ability to create a sense of glamour. To this day The Dorchester has an events space, The Penthouse & Pavilion, and the Oliver Messel Suite available to guests which the hotel will protect. His designs are characterised by a delicate balance of elegance and vibrancy, which makes them not only beautiful but also timeless. He was a master of his craft and had a keen eye for detail, which is evident in his designs. His use of colours, intricate patterns, and natural materials gave his designs a quality that has endured through the years.
3. What was the design process behind the installation? (Have there been any adaptations to the original installation, is so what were they?)
The design process behind The Dorchester's Coronation installation was a massive undertaking, involving six months of planning and preparation. The decorations themselves were built off-site and took three weeks to create.
The installation features 54 oversize velvet swags adorning the balconies of the hotel, with a quarter kilometre of fringe used on the swags. There is also an impressive 80 meters of giant ruche dressing down the side of each banner. The banners on each side of the building are made up of 160 square meters of printed mesh, while 480 meters of theatre velvet were used to create the swags. The installation also includes eight shields, weighing 152 kilos each on the side of each building. At the top of the installation is a crown, created using wood and gold mirror, measuring just over 10ft.
The major difference to the 1953 decorations is the colour palate, for which we chose a more modern colour palate which still felt regal!
4. Will the installation mirror the décor found inside the hotel?
The colours of the façade are very inspired by Royal British colours, which does reflect throughout the hotel. The Dorchester’s in-house designer florist, Philip Hammond, has created spectacular floral displays throughout the hotel including our new boutique Cake & Flowers. We also have a beautiful travel cake by the pastry team featuring a similar design to the façade.
London seems to be filled with a riot of colour and innovative designs and we cannot wait to see the festivities continue going into the remarkably significant weekend! It has been an honour discussing such an iconic installation with a venue in which so many stories of the bygone era have been embedded. A design truly fit for a King!
