Doves for the Royal Couple

In March 2011 adults from a range of community groups in Kensington and Chelsea took part in a project to create 29 individually decorated ceramic doves, one for each day of April leading up to the Royal Wedding.
The participants were told stories about royal weddings from the past – from the 16th to the 20th century – as well as getting to examine wedding related objects from our handling collection (original wedding programmes, newspapers, books and more).

Over two sessions the groups worked with the ceramics artist Kay Aplin to design motifs for doves of all shapes and sizes which Kay and her helpers had created in her studio. The designs were then turned into transfers which the participants applied to their doves.
Once fired, the doves were put on display in Kensington Palace for the month of April, so that all palace visitors could admire them in the days leading up to the royal wedding.




Shortly before the ‘big day’ itself, the groups returned to Kensington Palace where we held a Royal Wedding party, decking our learning space out in bunting and having a great time!
After the Wedding, the doves were packaged up and sent to the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as a wedding present from the participants.