A "European project"/ New royal curtains are created for the London Opera House

2026-04-22 13:35:00, Kulturë CNA

In a studio inside Hampton Court Palace in London, embroiderers are meticulously working on the monogram of King Charles III, which will adorn the new stage curtains at the Royal Opera House. The gold work, made with shimmering gold thread on red velvet, marks the first replacement of the curtains in 27 years, following those that bore the symbol of Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal School of Embroidery masters are using a combination of digital machines for the sharp edges and hand stitching for the intricate details such as the Tudor Crown, pearls and fur effects. Marg Dier, one of the senior embroiderers, explains that every stitch must be extremely secure as the curtains will be in constant motion during the thousands of performances expected in the future.

A "European project"/ New royal curtains are created for the London

The project has a distinctly international character, as after the embroidery in London is completed, the materials are sent to the Gerriets workshop in Volgelsheim, on the border between France and Germany. There, tailors assemble the royal symbols on giant curtains made of special mohair velvet. Project manager Andreas Fraemke emphasizes that this is a truly European project that combines British design with German and French production. The curtains are designed with four layers of fabric to guarantee acoustic insulation between the stage and the audience, weighing and covering a space of about 10 meters in height.

A "European project"/ New royal curtains are created for the London

The attention to detail is at its finest, especially as performances are now broadcast live with high-quality cameras capturing every detail up close. For this reason, staff at the Royal School of Embroidery have worked by hand to create natural creases in the velvet of the crown and to enhance the look of the precious stones. These monumental new curtains, which represent a new era for the prestigious London institution, will be officially unveiled to the public on 14 May 2026, during the Spring Gala.