THE village of Langford, near Lechlade, was today mourning the death of the designer who for more than 40 years had made clothes for the Queen.

Hardy Amies died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon at the age of 93 at the School House which he bought as a weekend retreat and for a decade used as his permanent home.

Amies was first asked to design for the Queen in 1950, when she was still Princess Elizabeth. And until 1980 when he decided to become semi-retired he made clothes for Royal tours, State events and official engagements.

The pink coat, dress and matching shawl which she wore for her official Silver Jubilee celebration was just one of Amie's creations

He also made the elegant white dress in which she posed for the picture which decorated a million Silver Jubilee souvenirs. His designs were frequently criticised, particularly by fashion gurus from abroad who considered them dowdy, but he pointed out that because of the nature of the Queen's public role they were crafted for comfort as well as looks.

Amies never criticised more radical designers by name, but in an interview with the Evening Advertiser he said he believed the mass market had come to be dominated by frankly flashy rubbish.

The Queen knighted him in 1988 as a reward for his long service to her.

He was a well-respected figure in Langford and believed passionately in preserving the best of country life and architecture.

"He was a very private man, had been unwell for some time and was in a wheel-chair," said churchwarden David Range.

"I had seen him only twice in the past year. But he was a very elegant man who always did things in style."