Queen's designer dies

Queen's designer dies

Sir Hardy Amies had only recently retired

Sir Hardy Amies, the Queen's dressmaker for half a century, has died aged 93.

Sir Hardy had only recently retired to the Cotswolds after running his Savile Row fashion house since 1946.

Besides Her Majesty, his clients included Diana, Princess of Wales, Vivien Leigh and Lady Diana Cooper, but it is for his royal designs that he is remembered.

"He died peacefully in his sleep at his home in the country," Tim Maltin, managing director of Hardy Amies Ltd, said.

"It is always a shock but his house continues, as he would have wished, to live up to his design style."

Sir Hardy was first summoned to Clarence House to present sketches to the then Princess Elizabeth in 1951.

His designs matched perfectly the demands posed by the royal job.

Day clothes must look equally good at Salisbury station as the Ritz bar; our customer always has one foot in the country, one in town

Hardy Amies

Click here for Sir Hardy Amies obituary

"His great wish was that his house should continue after this time and I can confirm that, although we are very sad, we will keep going and keep up his style," said Mr Maltin.

"We won't let him down.

"He was 93 but he remained mentally very alert until the very end although physically he became very ill."

Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen was very sad to hear of Sir Hardy's death.

"He contributed to her wardrobe over many years and she is, of course, saddened that he has died."

Fashion house

Sir Hardy's own fashion career began at the House of Lachasse, where, by his own admission, many of his designs were "extravagant and hideous".

He then served in the Second World War, and was demobilised in 1945 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Soon afterwards, he opened his own fashion house at No 14 Savile Row, the Georgian house that was once home to playwright Sheridan.

Sir Hardy watched the business grow, over more than 50 years, to a turnover of more than £200 million.

Even at the age of 86 he was putting in a four-day week at his studio, and it was only last Autumn that he completely retired.

His famous edict went: "Day clothes must look equally good at Salisbury station as the Ritz bar; our customer always has one foot in the country, one in town".