God Save the Queen

lorenza molina
Oct 6
2 min read

“Malcolm Mclaren seditionaries personal collection” t-shirt.

The original god save the queen shirt was created in 1977 the same year that Queen Elizabeth II would celebrate her Silver Jubilee, marking twenty-five years of her reign as the Queen of England. The main graphic on the front of the shirt was designed by Punk graphic designer, Jamie Reid, for the release of the Sex pistols single “god save the queen” and depicts Queen Elizabeth II with a safety pin on her face, a staple in punk culture and a reference used in Vivienne's designs throughout her career (kate moss in Anglomania 1993). It was one of the many designs made by Vivienne Westwood with Malcolm McLaren for the Seditionaries store in 430 King's Road.

In the Punk world, the summer of 1977 became known as “the Summer of Hate”, what was meant to be a grand national celebration instead exposed deep social conflicts, economic decline, political disillusionment, and youth alienation. Punks, especially the Sex Pistols, seized this moment to confront the monarchy and the establishment.

For the release of their single “God Save The Queen” they decided on an unorthodox promotional strategy that featured them crashing the Queen’s Jubilee celebration. What they decided to do was show up on boat via the River Thames and the moment they would pass the British Parliament, the band would begin a performance of “Anarchy in the UK”, “God Save the Queen”, “Pretty Vacant”, and “No Feelings”.

The police caught up to the boat and the band was arrested but also,the manager Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood who was also at the event.

Before the police came, it was a great party.

The event became a symbolic rejection of royal pageantry and national pride. But the “hate” was more than theatrical shock. It mirrored real anxieties of the time: rising unemployment, a feeling of national decay, and generational frustration. Punk became a lens for expressing anger toward an establishment seen as out of touch and oppressive.

This garment does not uphold the fashionable styles or beauty practices from the time, as it was a garment that aimed to subvert conventional ideals. It challenges the ideas of England’s monarchy with its graphic ridiculing the queen, along with the Sex Pistols highly controversial lyrics.

from Mémoire de Rayet´s personal collection.