Royal School of Needlework Embroidery Studios

The Royal School of Needlework (RSN) is the international centre of excellence for the art of hand embroidery. With a thriving education programme, the RSN offers a range of courses in hand embroidery for beginners through to advanced through live classes both onsite and online.

Steeped in history with unrivalled expertise in the techniques of hand embroidery, the RSN has taken this captivating, traditional art and made it relevant today. Students can choose to study short courses, a Certificate & Diploma, BA (Hons) Degree or gain a teaching qualification through the Future Tutors programme. The RSN attends exhibitions and hosts Tours and Private Lessons.

Move to Hampton Court Palace

1872: Lady Victoria Welby established the School of Art Needlework at 38 Sloane Street, Kensington to:
• keep the art and techniques of hand embroidery alive;
• promote embroidery as fine art;
• offer paid occupation to educated young women who might otherwise find themselves destitute.

1875: We became the Royal School of Art Needlework, when Queen Victoria became our first Patron.

1922: We became the Royal School of Needlework.

1987: The RSN moved to Hampton Court Palace thanks to the support of our then Patron, Her Majesty The Queen Mother. Her Majesty was an active supporter of the RSN from 1923, when she first became President, until her death in 2002. When we needed to leave Kensington, the Patron made phone calls which saw the RSN move here.

Since January 2017, HM Queen Camilla has been our Patron and the RSN Embroidery Studio worked nine pieces for the Coronation, including the restoration of King Charles III's Robe of State and the design and embroidery of HM Queen Camilla's Robe of Estate.

This year we celebrate 36 years at Hampton Court Palace!

Secrets Under the Floor

During December 2014, the floor boards of the Royal School of Needlework Embroidery Studio 2 were lifted to try to understand why a dip had occurred in the floor. It was found that the supporting sleeper walls had a number of stacked supports, which were beginning to destabilise and the short walls themselves were sinking into what, 500 years ago, had been the east moat of the Palace.

The brick foundations that you can see in the picture are part of the 16th century Apartments that Henry VIII originally built for Anne Boleyn. Whilst the HCP team knew that remains of this type should be found in this area, the floor had not been lifted for a long time so these remains had never been exposed before.

The very thick red brick wall would have formed the most easterly wall of the Palace overlooking the gardens and was constructed for Anne Boleyn in the early 1530s. The bay window appears to be a later addition and may represent a change in the original plan or part of the remodelling of the area for Jane Seymour.

It is likely that the area of Studio 2 (from 1537) would have originally functioned as part of the Queen’s Wardrobe and on the first floor above would have been the Queen’s Withdrawing Room.

The thin inner wall, within the bay window, appears to be some 16th century engineering works, probably aimed at stabilising the building (as this whole area was built in to the moat).

This wall has been dated to between 1580-1610 from clay pipe evidence – the pipe found could be traced as being made by John Rosse in Kingston.

All of these structures were demolished by Sir Christopher Wren at the end of the 17th century to make way for the magnificent Baroque palace in which you are standing today which William III and Mary II began to rebuild in 1689. But the main walls of Anne’s apartments were sound so the foundations of the Baroque palace are built into those of the Tudor palace.

The Royal School of Needlework & Five Coronations 1902 - 2023 Exhibition

The RSN sometimes holds exhibitions in the RSN Embroidery Studio. ‘The Royal School of Needlework & Five Coronations 1902 – 2023’ will be open on set days from September to November for individual visitors or for Group Tours.
This special display will feature archive items from the RSN’s experience of working on five coronations including the official images taken of some of the RSN team at work in 1902, 1937, 1953 and 2023.
Given that the coronation items themselves are now the property of their Royal owners and the Royal Collection, this exhibition features our role in the event behind the scenes from designs, including some not used, to some interesting left overs and souvenirs from fabrics to needle cleaners.
Also included will be images from past coronation exhibitions in which the RSN was involved. From the most recent coronation, there will be images of work in progress and of some of the team who worked on it along with some of the sampling. This is a fascinating glimpse into how some of the amazing items seen on the day were created.
See the website www.royal-needlework.org.uk for more information.