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Costumes from star-studded Queen Anne film The Favourite on display at Kensington Palace until 8th February 2019.
Once a favoured home of Queen Anne, Kensington Palace was at the heart of court life for almost a century, and its wood-paneled Queen’s State Apartments still resonate with the drama and grandeur of the Stuart monarchs. Now, in partnership with Fox Searchlight Pictures, costumes from a new feature film exploring the relationships and power struggles of Queen Anne and two of her closest female attendants will once again shine a light on this largely forgotten British monarch.
The first period film from director Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite explores Queen Anne’s intimate relations with her life-long friend and political advisor Lady Sarah Churchill, and Sarah’s impoverished cousin turned chambermaid Abigail. Starring BAFTA winner Olivia Colman as Queen Anne, alongside Oscar winning actresses Emma Stone (Abigail Hill) and Rachel Weisz (Sarah Churchill), The film charts the ruthless rivalry between Sarah and Abigail as they vie for the Queen’s favour and the all-important power conferred by capturing the affections of the monarch.
The film’s lavish costumes have been designed by three-time Oscar winning costume designer Sandy Powell, who has worked with Fox Searchlight Pictures and Historic Royal Palaces – the independent charity which cares for Kensington Palace – on creating a display in the historic Queen’s Gallery, once used by Anne and her husband for exercise during bad weather. This specially curated exhibit will showcase Powell’s bold visual approach to evoking court fashions on screen, and provide a sneak peek at what cinema-goers can expect when the film opens in the UK on 1 January. Taking inspiration from 18th century silhouettes, visitors will be able to discover how Powell and her team experimented with colour, fabric and design to create a stylized look that combines denim, brocade and even African prints. Each costume will be complemented by quotes from Powell, alongside historic context provided by Historic Royal Palaces curator Matthew Storey to help visitors uncover the fascinating story of Anne’s reign.
The Favourite is released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on January 1st 2019. For more information about The Favourite displays at Kensington Palace, click here.
