'Shimmering' gold gown worn during coronation on display in Edinburgh

A gown designed for the coronation of Queen Alexandra is to go on display in Edinburgh as part of an exhibition exploring the "glamour" of the Edwardian era.

The garment, which is laced with hundreds of gold spangles, was designed to make the queen consort radiate during the first coronation to be lit by electric lighting.

Newspaper articles from the time described her as "appearing in an extraordinary blaze of golden light" during the event at Westminster Abbey in August 1902.

Outfits worn by her husband, King Edward VII, and a number of artworks and personal effects will also be on display in the exhibition, entitled "The Edwardians: Age of Elegance" at the King's Gallery from Friday.

Alexandra served as queen consort until 1910, when Edward died as a result of multiple heart attacks.

She was known for her opulent taste, trendsetting fashion sense and "ritzy" lifestyle alongside Edward after their marriage in 1863.

Conservators from the Royal Collection Trust spent more than 100 hours preparing and restoring the gown before it was put on display.

The ensemble, designed by the female-led Parisien fashion house Morin Blossier, also included a mauve velvet mantle.

Exhibition curator, Kathryn Jones, said Alexandra's choice of a gold fabric over the traditional white for her coronation gown was seen as "incredibly novel".

She added: "While the dress may have darkened over time, descriptions in contemporary newspapers described the new queen as appearing in an extraordinary blaze of golden light thanks to the new electric lighting.

"It is one of many powerful examples of how Edward and Alexandra held onto tradition but were not afraid to do it in their own way.

"We hope that visitors to the exhibition will come away with a renewed appreciation for this fascinating period, as Britain stood on the cusp of the 20th century, before the upheaval of World War I."

A multimedia guide narrated by Donwton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville will guide visitors around the exhibition.

Edward and Alexandra were among the most widely-travelled royal couples of the time.

The King commissioned landscape photographer Francis Bedford to record his tour of the middle east, including a striking image of Edward in front of the Sphinx in Giza, Egypt – then still largely submerged in sand – with the Great Pyramid in the distance.

The exhibition will also feature artefacts from their royal households by designers including Fabergé, Wedgwood and Tiffany & Co.