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Auction: 11011 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 337

Royal Warrant Holders Association Silver Jubilee Medal 1977, suspension bar engraved ´Hardy Amies´, extremely fine Estimate £ 300-400 Lieutenant-Colonel Sir (Edwin) Hardy Amies, K.C.V.O., (1909-2003), the well-known fashion designer and dress maker to H.M. The Queen, was born in London and educated at Brentwood School; after school he spent three years travelling around Europe, learning both French and German. On the outbreak of the Second World War, with his ability in languages, he was called up to serve in the Special Operations Executive, and was Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Intelligence Corps, 15.7.1940. Posted to Belgium, he managed a number of agents in the field, rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the Crown (London Gazette 17.9.1948) for his efforts on behalf of the Belgian War effort. In 1946, Amies established his own couture fashion house, Hardy Amies Ltd, in Savile Row. In 1950 he designed several outfits for Princess Elizabeth´s royal tour of Canada, the beginning of an association that would last for the next 40 years. In 1955, he was granted the Royal Warrant as Dressmaker to H.M. the Queen, and one of his best known creations was the gown he designed for the Queen´s official Silver Jubilee portrait in 1977. Appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order that year (London Gazette 11.6.1977), he continued as dress designer to the Queen for the next decade. Advanced to a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1989 (London Gazette 17.6.1989), Amies relinquished his Royal Warrant the following year in order that younger designers could create for the Queen.

Sold for
£500