Editing Royal School of Needlework (section)

==History==
The RSN began as the School of Art Needlework in 1872, founded by [[Lady Victoria Welby]]. The first president was [[Princess Helena of the United Kingdom|Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein]], [[Queen Victoria]]'s third daughter, known to the RSN as Princess Helena.<ref name="Sheppard75">{{cite book|editor1-last=Sheppard|editor1-first=F.H.W.|volume=38 |title=South Kensington Museums Area|date=1975|location=London|pages=231–232|chapter-url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol38/pp231-232|access-date=17 August 2015|chapter=Royal School of Needlework |work=[[Survey of London]]}}</ref> She received help from [[William Morris]] and many of his friends in the [[Arts and Crafts movement]].
[[file:RSNs new building on Exhibition Road opened in 1875 by Princess Helena.jpg|thumb|left|Their new building on Exhibition Road was opened in 1875 by Princess Helena]]
Its initial premises was a small apartment on [[Sloane Street]],<ref name=Sheppard75 /> employing 20 women. She employed [[Anastasia Marie Dolby]] as the superintendent and instructor but she died in the following year.<ref>{{Citation |last=Hulse |first=Lynn |title=Dolby [née Dolan], Anastasia Marie (1823/4–1873), embroiderer and designer |date=2024-07-11 |work=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-90000382471 |access-date=2024-07-30 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000382471 |isbn=978-0-19-861412-8}}</ref> [[Nellie Whichelo]] was the head designer from the late 1880s.<ref>{{Citation |last=Hulse |first=Lynn |title=Whichelo, Mary Eleanor [Nellie] (1862–1959), head designer of the Royal School of Art Needlework |date=2024-07-11 |work=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-90000382475 |access-date=2024-07-30 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000382475 |isbn=978-0-19-861412-8}}</ref>  The School received its royal prefix in March 1875 when Queen Victoria consented to become its first patron. It was also an inspiration to Dora Wemyss, who founded the [[Wemyss School of Needlework]] in Scotland in 1877 in its image.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.avocadosweet.com/wemyss-school-needlework-stitching-since-1877/|title=Wemyss School of Needlework: stitching since 1877|date=2016-08-10|website=Avocado Sweet|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-13}}</ref> The school grew to 150 students and moved in 1903 to Exhibition Road, near the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]]. The purpose-built building was designed by a group of architects, including prominent British Arts and Crafts architect [[James Leonard Williams]] (d.1926).<ref name=RNS_History2015 /> The word "Art" was dropped from the school's title in 1922.<ref name="RNS_History2015">{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.royal-needlework.org.uk/content/13/history|website=Royal School of Needlework|access-date=17 August 2015}}</ref>

The RSN established a Studio which works new bespoke embroidery commissions and replicas of antique textiles as well as restoration and conservation projects. The work of the Studio has been used in many important events, including a joint effort with [[Toye, Kenning and Spencer|Toye]] in producing the velvet cushions on which the Royal Crowns were carried into [[Westminster Abbey]] for the Coronation of [[King George VI]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toye.com/about-us/our-history |title=Toye History |publisher=[[Toye, Kenning and Spencer]]|access-date=16 August 2015}}</ref>

In 1953, the school created the gold embroidery on the Purple Robe of Estate, part of the coronation robes of [[Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref name=RNS_History2015 />

The school moved from Princes Gate in [[Kensington]] to [[Hampton Court Palace]] in 1987, occupying rooms in [[Christopher Wren]]'s construction.<ref>{{cite news |first=Maev |last=Kennedy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/feb/12/hampton-courts-lost-apartment-foundations-uncovered |title=Hampton Court's lost apartment foundations uncovered  |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 February 2015 |access-date=18 August 2015}}</ref>

In 2011, the school was responsible for hand [[appliqué]]ing machine-made floral lace motifs onto silk net ([[Tulle netting|tulle]]) for the [[wedding dress of Kate Middleton]], now Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13249018 |title=Royal wedding: Dress embroiderers were kept in the dark |work=[[BBC News]] |date=30 April 2011 |access-date=18 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Royal School of Needlework's hand embroidery expertise helps Sarah Burton create Miss Catherine Middleton's wedding dress|url=http://www.royal-needlework.org.uk/images/uploaded/Documents/Press_and_publicity/press+release+-+royal+wedding+dress+-+29+april+2011.pdf|publisher=Royal School of Needlework|access-date=27 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915034044/http://www.royal-needlework.org.uk/images/uploaded/Documents/Press_and_publicity/press+release+-+royal+wedding+dress+-+29+april+2011.pdf|archive-date=15 September 2012}}</ref>

In 2022, the school celebrated its 150-year anniversary with the ''150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework: Crown to Catwalk'' exhibition at the [[Fashion and Textile Museum]] of London.{{r|threads}} The exhibition explored the history of RSN, some of the school's work, mostly over the twentieth century, along with exploring RSN's role in contemporary times. The exhibition also displayed work from teachers and students that "highlighted the versatility of embroidery and how historical techniques can be adapted to modern art pieces".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ferreira |first1=Catarina |title=‘150 Years of the Royal School of Needlework: Crown to  Catwalk’. Fashion and Textile Museum, London, UK, 1  April 2022–4 September 2022 |journal=Textile History |date=13 July 2023 |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=101-105 |doi=10.1080/00404969.2022.2200286 |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/00404969.2022.2200286}}</ref>

The RSN embroidered 9 pieces for [[Coronation of Charles III and Camilla|the 2023 Coronation]], including the King's Robe of State and the Queen's Robe of Estate. <ref>{{cite news |url= https://royal-needlework.org.uk/coronation/coronation-of-charles-iii/ |title= Coronation of Charles III |work=[[Royal School of Needlework]] |date=6 May 2023 |access-date=6 May 2023}}</ref>