According to tradition, this gown comes from the Romanian royal Peles Chateau and is believed to have belonged to Queen Elisabeth (née Pauline Elisabeth Ottilie Luise, Princess of Wied, 1843–1916), wife of Carol I, King of Romania (1839–1914), an authoress and poetess, also known by her pen name Carmen Sylva. The requirements for official etiquette and the Queen’s mature age certainly influenced this gown’s somewhat historicising style.