Fonds E 25 - Queen Mary's Needlework Guild fonds

The Guild was established in 1882 when the matron of an orphanage in Dorset, England asked Lady Wolverton for 24 pairs of knitted socks and 12 jerseys for the children in her care. She started a small Guild amongst her friends to provide not less than 2 garments for each child at the orphanage and to supply clothing to other charitable institutions. The Guild grew quickly and by 1894 The London Needlework Guild (as it was then known) was making and distributing over 52,000 garments a year. During WW1 the Guild sent over 15.5 million articles of clothing and surgical items, estimated to be worth over £1 million to troops overseas. The Guild also provided much needed help to the women and families at home, through donations to hospitals and parishes. In 1885 Princess Mary Adelaide of Teck (mother of the future Queen Mary) had become patron of The London Guild, beginning an unbroken line of Royal patronage. In 1897 her daughter, the Duchess of York (the future Queen Mary) became the patron, having helped her mother with the charity since childhood. On becoming Queen Consort in 1910, Queen Mary renamed the charity Queen Mary’s Needlework Guild and in 1914 established St James’s Palace as the headquarters. The Guild continues to receive, sort and distribute clothing and bedding at St James’s Palace today. Queen Elizabeth served as patron for almost fifty years, from 1953 until 2002 and the Guild was renamed the Queen Mother’s Clothing Guild in 2010 as a tribute to her.