Crowns and gowns
Image Gallery Page Navigation
Page 2 of 2
Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Menzies, Canberra, 1954
National Archives of Australia, A2756/1 RVK61
Evening gown, 1954
National Museum of Australia
A night to remember
On 6 February 1954, Beth Dean-Carrell met the Queen and Duke during the intermission of the Royal Command Performance of the ballet, Corroboree at the Tivoli Theatre. Beth was wearing this full-length green faille gown complete with a scrolled leaf design made from diamante studs and bugle beads and matching white kid gloves. Beth was presented to the Queen by Charles Moses, General Manager of the ABC. The Queen laughed when Moses told her that Beth would be an Aboriginal boy in a few minutes. The presentation was arranged at short notice and Beth had to run across the street to buy a gown off the rack. She paid 65 guineas.
