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Discover the artistry of bespoke hand embroidery at the National Army Museum with an exclusive event and live demonstration led by experts from Hand & Lock, Britain’s oldest embroidery house.

For centuries, the uniforms, standards and ceremonial items used by soldiers in the British Army have been beautifully embroidered with goldwork. This event offers a rare opportunity to delve into Britain’s rich embroidery heritage, showcasing its enduring influence on royal, military and contemporary design.

This immersive experience takes you behind the scenes of Hand & Lock’s celebrated craftsmanship, offering a fascinating exploration of centuries-old embroidery techniques that remain vital in creating exquisite ceremonial and military pieces today. Learn about the studio’s history, from its collaborations with the British Royal Family and the British Military to its partnerships with renowned fashion brands like Burberry, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton. Alongside this, hear from the National Army Museum’s expert curators as they highlight the role the museum has in preserving and showcasing the items within the museum’s world-class collection.

In this special evening event, museum curators begin proceedings by highlighting the history and traditions behind the uniform worn by the British Army while discussing the work that goes into preserving them for posterity. Attendees also get the opportunity to view a selection of uniforms and ceremonial objects that are not normally on display and chat to curators about their history and significance.

Alongside this, Hand & Lock highlights a range of iconic works, such as the intricate embroidery featured on garments worn by Queen Camilla and Penny Mordaunt during the Coronation of King Charles III. Gain hands-on insights into the process as their experts share exclusive samples and explain the artistry involved in creating these ceremonial masterpieces.

The event also includes a live demonstration of traditional embroidery techniques on a slate frame, allowing you to witness first-hand the precision, skill and dedication that go into crafting these timeless designs.