Kate Strasdin

A Royal Wardrobe Unlocked: A Biographical Analysis of the Surviving Garments of Queen Alexandra

(Working title of M/Phil/PhD)

Alexandra, Princess of Wales and Queen Consort was one of the most popular public figures of her day. From 1863, the year of her marriage until 1910 on the death of her husband Edward VII, she filled the columns of newspapers with her style and elegance. Her appearance was a source of huge interest for the general public. Her ability to dress successfully whatever the occasion was one of her great skills. The biographical record relating to Alexandra is littered with references to her dress, but none have given any attention to the nature of her appearance and the impact it had on her public image. Using the range of surviving garments associated with Alexandra in tandem with textual material, this study looks at some of the ways in which material culture can unlock and expand upon the historical record. What can this material culture add to a ‘known’ biographical narrative? How does it challenge the accepted version of events? This project allows an attempt at analysing a life through dress and the stories objects can tell.