Royal Palace Curtains Repurposed for Charity Auction

An unexpected opportunity has emerged for individuals to acquire a piece of royal heritage. Curtains that once adorned the walls of Buckingham Palace and significant rooms at Windsor Castle have been transformed into coverings for foot stools. Eight of these foot stools, featuring their environmentally conscious royal provenance, are scheduled for an online auction to benefit the King’s Foundation charity. Previously, disused palace curtains were utilized to create kimonos, which were auctioned in the preceding year. These foot stools are presented as a potential highlight for Christmas gatherings, offering home furnishings with a more authentic royal connection than the set of the television series “The Crown.” The recycled curtain material, described as “delft blue floral, vintage rose and teal, and rich damask burnt orange drapery,” represents styles in use between the 1950s and 1990s, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. In a related initiative focused on finding new homes for Christmas, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has also participated in the charity auction of royal foot stools. A selection of their dogs, currently awaiting adoption, were featured in the photoshoot for the auction lots, in what was humorously referred to as another form of “re-tail.” Funds generated from the online auction will be allocated to the King’s Foundation, an organization that provides training in traditional craft skills. The foundation also aims to assist in securing homes for some of the Battersea dogs. The hand-crafted wooden foot stools were produced at the Snowdon School of Furniture, situated at King Charles’s Highgrove Estate in Gloucestershire. Members of the Dumfries House Sewing Bee in Scotland, an open invitation group for developing textile skills, created the coverings. This recycling initiative aligns with the King’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. The auctioning of royal items is not without precedent. Last year, over £32,000 was raised for charity through the sale of chairs used during the Coronation. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.