Accession Number

2022.006.020.002

Description

A printed invitation addressed to "Lieutenant and Mrs. Holme Sumner" to attend the Coronation of Edward Vll at Westminster Abbey on June 26, 1902, the brown printing on heavy beige paper, a wide border all around, the Royal Coat of Arms in each top corner, the Crown centred in the border at bottom.

Narrative

Lieutenant Holme-Sumner’s wife was Margaret Joan Harvey, a granddaughter of Robert and Joan Olive Dunsmuir. Her mother’s brother, Hon. James Dunsmuir and his wife Laura received an identical invitation to the Coronation (see: 983.804 https://collection.thecastle.ca/Detail/objects/2116)

Lt. Berkeley Holme-Sumner was the second son of Arthur Holme-Sumner, Esq., owner of Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.  Their Majesties King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra were long-time friends of Arthur Holme-Sumner and Mrs. Holme-Sumner, and were frequent guests at Berkeley Castle before their Coronation, where Arthur was Master of the Hunt.

The invitation is signed by the Earl Marshal, "Norfolk". This same signature appears in the TSSY Dolaura Guest Register (Craigdarroch Primary Collection 2012.7.5) and the person was Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk KG GCVO VD PC (1847-1917).

History of Use

This invitation was used by Captain Berkeley Holme-Sumner (RN) CBE OBE (1872-1943) in England until his death in 1943. It was inherited and used by his widow Margaret Joan Harvey and later by his daughter Georgiana Holme-Sumner (Mrs. Robert Dunlop Stewart) in England, and still later, in Scotland by her son, who donated it to The Castle Society in 2022.

Date

1902

Dimensions

22.2 x 27.2 cm

Material

Paper