A couture evening dress by Maureen Rose 1960s, in cream silk with intricate beading and ribbonwork,

Maureen Rose says she worked for Norman Hartnell for nine years, then worked for Ian Thomas. It was while working for Thomas that she was first summoned to Buckingham Palace. Crucially, she says that after Thomas died in 1993, the Palace telephoned her at home and the Queen asked her to continue making her clothes. Rose recalled that she was not working with a designer at that time, so she and the Queen effectively continued together.