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Overview
This handkerchief commemorates the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 3 June 1953, the head of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth.
This colourful coronation handkerchief is interesting because it barely refers to the Queen and her coronation. Instead, it illustrates and reinforces the political constituents of Elizabeth II's kingdom - the United Kingdom. It uses conventional royal iconography (crowns, standards and flags) and coats of arms of each of the kingdom's four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
The 1953 coronation was celebrated around the world and was broadcast on television. New Zealanders celebrated this event at a distance. They purchased a great range of souvenirs produced to mark the auspicious moment, including the 10-year-old-girl, Cathryn Riley, who acquired this one.