Queen’s dresser Madam Vera Poncin’s godson tells of behind-the-scenes hard work and compassion

A Brisbane man, whose godmother was the Queen’s former wardrobe manager, has retold behind-the-scenes stories of the hard work that went into keeping the monarch well heeled.

A Brisbane man, whose godmother was the Queen’s former wardrobe manager, has retold behind-the-scenes stories of the hard work that went into keeping the monarch well heeled.

When Michael Beatty, from The Gap, was born into a famous British acting family in London, his godmother was the lauded and vetted model Vera Ashby.

Vera, known for her beauty and style, was hailed as “the most beautiful mannequin of Molyneux’s Mayfair Salon” in 1927 and was dubbed Sumurun, or desert enchantress.

Mr Beatty said his memories of Madam Vera included tales of how the Queen worked tirelessly to be inclusive and sent her a birthday card and Christmas card every year until her death.

“She was always personable to Vera and never forgot her birthday each year,” Mr Beatty said.

“The Queen was part of the fashion set and so was Vera.

“My godmother was well connected and my godfather was Jack Warner, who played PC George Dixon in the famous television show Dixon of Dock Green.

“Vera was the embodiment of a regal confidante and would never openly speak about what went on behind the palace gates — needless to say there were many parties and no expense spared on the wardrobe.”

Madam Vera Poncin oversaw all the royal gown fittings and the royal wardrobe while she worked for the Logan fashion house owned by Norman Hartnell.

However, the ultimate wardrobe malfunction occurred an event at Sandringham which did not escape public notice.

Madam Poncin had to step in to ensure the Queen was wearing the correct outfit after a gruelling day when the monarch had seven scheduled outfit changes.

Madam Poncin tactfully alerted the Queen she was wearing the outfit for the following event and a quick wardrobe reshuffle was made.

Vera started her career as a model with Anglo-Irish designer Edward Molyneux at his London fashion house, which had a glittering social life centred around the royal court, where she first met the young Queen.

As Molyneux’s star mannequin she wore luxurious tea gowns patterned with Japanese blossoms teamed with turbans and pearls, metallic threads, silver beading and rhinestones.

For the finale of one Paris fashion show in 1924, Vera was rigged up with electricity and at the right moment on the catwalk, the jewels in her turban and earrings lit up.

But times were tough for a model and despite wearing jewels and feathers on the catwalk during the day, at night she would return to her bedsit to cook up sausages over an open gas stove.

She moved back to London from the Paris fashion world in 1937, and became the vendeuse Madame Vera at Norman Hartnell’s salon, at the height of his stardom.

Employees of English couturier and court dressmaker Sir Norman Hartnell including Madam Vera Poncin in discussion at his salon at Bruton St, Mayfair, London. Original Publication: Picture Post – Hartnell And The Coronation. Photo by Kurt Hutton/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

She married French actor and artist Marcel Poncin and on his death in 1953, had already devoted her life to tending to the royal wardrobe under the guidance of Hartnell who made her responsible for dressing the Queen.

She stayed with Hartnell until 1968 but even after retirement travelled with the Queen on international tours.

Mr Hartnell was officially appointed dressmaker to the royal family in 1952 when he was asked to design the Queen’s coronation dress after he successfully styled her wedding gown.

A royal tour to India in 1961, the first in 50 years, had one of the most extensive and planned wardrobes, which Madam Poncin oversaw right down to the last appliqued diamond.

Diary notes from Mr Hartnell said Madam Poncin was crucial to his workings.

As soon as the royal itinerary was fixed, his staff, headed by Madam Poncin, would be summoned from his Bruton Street salon to Buckingham Palace for a preliminary conference.

On the return palace visit, Mr Hartnell and Madam Vera would take samples of new and suitable fabrics.

Madam Poncin, known for her fashion experience and taste in chic French clothing, would take over the entire wardrobe from that point.

An early 1923 photo of the alluring model Vera Ashby, known as Sumurun, on the catwalk in Paris before she took a job with Norman Hartnell and became the Queen’s fashion consultant and wardrobe manager.

The model and widow of the renowned French actor, would speak with the Queen and courtiers about the entire wardrobe for the trip, planning garments for each day.

Mr Beatty said it was no easy feat as the Queen often had more than five changes a day while on tour.

Skilful fitters would race between the palace and the Hartnell salon with all fittings taking place under the watchful eye of Madam Poncin.

As a present to Mr Beatty, Madam Poncin sent him a signed photograph she took while travelling with the Queen in Canada in 1973, when the Queen visited Ottawa.

The Queen wore a diamond-patterned dress when she accepted Jerry, one of the five finest horses in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Stables, a great-grandson of the famous racehorse Man O’ War.

This photo was taken before an official ceremony with the Canadian Mounted Police.