Stole Royal

The Stole Royal is removed, with other garments, before the procession from Westminster Abbey for which the Imperial Robe is worn.

[8] Queen Victoria's Stole Royal was lined with crimson sarsenet and embroidered with eagles, roses, fleurs-de-lys, crosses and crowns.

Above the cross was embroidery depicting an eagle, representing the Empire, surmounted by symbols of the Home Nations: a rose (for England), thistle (for Scotland), shamrock (for Ireland), dragon (for Wales).

Above these were symbols of the dominions: a lotus (for India), maple (for Canada), wattle flower (for South Africa), the Southern Cross (for Australia) and the stars from the New Zealand flag.

[13] The Stole Royal of George VI was made of cloth of gold and decorated with symbols of the Empire in coloured thread and arranged in a flowing pattern.

Depictions of plants were used to represent the Home Nations and Commonwealth Realms including a Tudor rose (England), a leek (Wales), shamrock (Northern Ireland), thistle (Scotland), wattle flower (Australia), maple leaf (Canada), two types of lotus (India and Sri Lanka), fern (New Zealand), cotton, jute and wheat (Pakistan) and the protea (South Africa).

It is adorned with emblems of the four countries of the United Kingdom, a dove representing the Holy Spirit, a Tudor-style crown, and a pattern based on the Cosmati Pavement in Westminster Abbey.