The Duchess of Gloucester has opened an exhibition celebrating the Royal School of Needlework’s royal connections.

Embroiderers welcomed the duchess, formerly Birgitte Eva van Deurs Henriksen, to the show which was held in the studio where lace makers worked in secret to hand-stitch the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress last year.

The duchess wore a green crushed velvet coat and enjoyed a tour of the exhibition, which marks the Queen’s diamond jubilee and includes pieces by royal stitchers, workroom order books, photographs and designs and commissions for royal occasions.

She said she particularly enjoyed seeing work made by some of her own relatives when she chatted with sponsors and supporters of the RSN at the official opening on Monday, February 13.

The royal is the president of the needlework school, which is housed in Hampton Court Palace and has royal connections going back to 1872, when it was started by Lady Victoria Welby.

The needlework school, which was initially established to give unmarried women training and employment in hand embroidery, also celebrates its 140th anniversary this year.

Chief executive of the RSN Dr Susan Kay-Williams said she was delighted the duchess had come along to the event.

She said: "The duchess was very interested to see the wide range of exhibits highlighting the Royal School of Needlework’s link with royalty over its 140 years and to meet some of our supporters, volunteers and staff."

Today the RSN continues to keep the traditional craft skills of English hand embroidery alive through its education programme and commissions produced in the studio by highly skilled staff.

The exhibition is open to the public on set tour days. These are March 16 and 17, May 16 and 26 and July 6 and 7. Pre-booking required. Contact Belinda Egginton on 020 3166 6941 or visit royal-needlework.org.uk.