The largest ever exhibition of Queen Elizabeth II's fashion will be staged at Buckingham Palace to mark the centenary of the late monarch's birth. Some 200 items, more than half on public display for the first time, will chart the story of the nation's longest reigning sovereign through outfits worn during all 10 decades of her life.
The Queen's clothing, from birth to adulthood, from princess to queen, and from off-duty style to diplomatic dressing for the global stage will be explored at The King's Gallery in 2026. This marks the year she would have turned 100.
Wedding and coronation gowns featured
Among the key pieces in the most comprehensive exhibition of the late Queen's fashion ever to be mounted will be a silver lame and tulle bridesmaid dress worn by Princess Elizabeth when she was eight years old. A trio of floaty, vibrantly printed Ian Thomas evening dresses from the 1970s will also be displayed alongside the Queen's famous Sir Norman Hartnell wedding and coronation gowns.
The exhibition will delve into Elizabeth II's use of diplomatically significant emblems and colours in her overseas tour wardrobes. This includes a white Hartnell gown designed for a 1961 State Banquet in Karachi, which incorporated Pakistan's national colours through a dramatic emerald-green pleat cascading down the back.
Behind-the-scenes fashion process revealed
Alongside clothing, jewellery, hats, shoes and accessories, visitors will see never-before-seen design sketches, fabric samples and handwritten correspondence. These items reveal the behind-the-scenes process of dressing one of the most famous women in the world.
The Queen's fashion archive is considered one of the largest and most important surviving collections of 20th-century British fashion and now forms part of the Royal Collection. The exhibition will also shed new light on the late Queen's close involvement in the creation of her wardrobe.
Curator highlights distinctive style impact
Caroline de Guitaut, exhibition curator and Surveyor of The King's Works of Art who has written an accompanying book, Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style, said: "Over the course of Queen Elizabeth II's remarkably long reign, her distinctive style became instantly recognisable around the world, bolstering the British fashion industry and influencing generations of designers and couturiers." She added: "Only now, as the late Queen's fashion archive comes under the care of Royal Collection Trust, can we tell the story of a lifetime of thoughtful style choices - from her hands-on role and understanding of the soft power behind her clothing, to the exceptional craftsmanship behind each garment."
De Guitaut emphasised the Queen's understanding of fashion's diplomatic power. "In the year that she would have turned 100 years old, this exhibition will be a celebration of Queen Elizabeth's uniquely British style and her enduring fashion legacy," she said.
Childhood bridesmaid dress among earliest pieces
The bridesmaid dress by Edward Molyneux is one of the earliest surviving pieces of couture from the Queen's childhood wardrobe. It was worn to the wedding of her uncle George, the Duke of Kent to Princess Marina of Greece in 1934.
In the 1940s as British couture rose to prominence, Princess Elizabeth began working with Sir Norman, who became her most influential designer over the next three decades. He was chosen to design her wedding dress in 1947 and her Coronation dress in 1953.
Evening wear evolution showcased
The Royal Collection cited eveningwear as a "vital component of the Queen's wardrobe", with members of the public able to see "stunning examples that reflect the evolution of fashion trends throughout the Queen's long reign". On show will be crinoline-skirted gowns from the 1950s by Sir Norman and Sir Hardy Amies.
Outfits by Thomas, who began designing for the Queen in the 1970s and introduced softer silhouettes in chiffon and striking colours to her evening dress, will also feature. The Royal Collection described this as channelling "relaxed glamour", with three of his floor length gowns in bright orange, sunshine yellow and vivid blue to be exhibited for the first time.
Off-duty wardrobe highlights practical style
The Queen's off duty wardrobe will also be a feature, with visitors able to view impeccably cut riding jackets, tartan skirts and silk headscarves. These are among the never-before-displayed examples of the monarch's practical everyday style.
The late Queen, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96, would have celebrated her 100th birthday on April 21 2026. Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style is at The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, from spring to autumn 2026, with dates to be confirmed in due course and tickets going on sale in November 2025.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
