Queen Camilla has unveiled a personal family connection to fashion icon Dame Zandra Rhodes during a royal visit to Bath, where she highlighted the city's rich arts and cultural heritage. The Queen was given a guided tour of the Holburne Museum, a venue renowned for its collections and exhibitions, as part of a day focused on promoting Bath's artistic legacy, which includes its famous Roman baths, Georgian architecture, and associations with author Jane Austen.
Royal Revelation at Fashion Exhibition
During the tour, Camilla visited the exhibition "Zandra Rhodes: A Life in Print," which showcases a selection of the designer's screen-printed garments from the 1960s to the 1980s, displayed on vintage Adel Rootstein mannequins. As curator Rosemary Harden escorted the royal guest through the display, Camilla revealed, "My sister had a wedding dress made by Zandra Rhodes." This disclosure adds a personal touch to the exhibition, linking the royal family to Rhodes's influential work in fashion.
Zandra Rhodes's Iconic Designs
Zandra Rhodes is celebrated for her bold use of colour, signature prints, and trademark pink hair, with her designs having dressed notable figures such as Diana, Princess of Wales, in her early royal years, and pop singer Freddie Mercury. The exhibition features flowing dresses with striking designs, including a 1972 green silk chiffon outfit printed with a field of lilies, famously worn by Bianca Jagger, daughter of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger.
Curator's Insights on Rhodes's Unique Approach
Curator Rosemary Harden later explained Rhodes's distinctive design philosophy, stating, "Dame Zandra is a printer, so her thing is that the print leads the dress, so it's the yardage of the fabric which dictates the style of the dress. She's rare in that most designers cut into cloth. She's a genius with colour and pattern, and that is unique, everyone else goes with cut." This highlights Rhodes's innovative approach, where patterns and colours take precedence over traditional cutting techniques.
Additional Cultural Highlights in Bath
Beyond the fashion exhibition, Queen Camilla also toured an exhibition of memorable prints by photographer Sir Don McCullin, a close friend of Camilla's late brother. McCullin's work, which includes global travels capturing impactful images, adds another layer to Bath's cultural offerings, emphasising the city's role as a hub for arts and creativity.
The visit underscores Bath's enduring appeal as a centre for arts and culture, with Queen Camilla's personal anecdotes bringing a royal dimension to the city's vibrant artistic scene. This event not only celebrates Zandra Rhodes's legacy but also reinforces the importance of preserving and promoting cultural heritage in historic cities like Bath.
