Presentation of the Coronation Fan to HM the Queen

Photography by - Niki Gorick Photography

The Worshipful Company of Fan Makers has a long tradition of marking important Royal occasions with the presentation of a commemorative fan.

The tradition began in 1897, when Queen Victoria received a fan for her Diamond Jubilee, followed by Queen Alexandra at her Coronation in 1902. More recently, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester accepted a fan to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Following the Coronation in 2023, a new fan was commissioned by Past Master Peter Dove and designed by artist Paul Benney, who was also painting the official Coronation portrait in which the fan appears. Its design features flora and fauna that are especially meaningful to Their Majesties. The fan was made by Frederick Gay, France’s Master Fan Maker and is a token of The Fan Makers’ loyal congratulations on the Coronation.

In February 2024, at Clarence House, the Queen was made an Honorary Liveryman of the Company during a special ceremony attended by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester.

On May 7th 2026, the Queen visited The Fan Museum to be presented with this new fan by the Master, Dinesh Naidu.

As an Honorary Liverman of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers, the Queen will be aware that the Company traces its origins to the late seventeenth century, having received its Royal Charter in 1709. 

Today, while it remains proud custodian of a distinctive craft tradition, its purpose is also charitable: to support education, heritage skills, and community projects.

A fan is at once practical and ceremonial: it speaks of craftsmanship, patience, and artistry, yet it is also meant to be used and enjoyed. 

In that spirit, The Worshipful Company of Fan Makers has offered this gift not merely as an object, but as a symbol of continuity—of traditions carefully handed on, and of public service carried forward with dignity and warmth.