Buckingham Palace to Showcase Late Monarch’s Fashion Legacy

A major exhibition at Buckingham Palace next year will celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth II’s enduring fashion legacy, featuring over 200 items from her childhood to her reign. The exhibition, titled “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style,” will coincide with the centenary of her birth and showcase a range of outfits she wore for public events and everyday life.

Among the items on display will be the Queen’s wedding dress, designed by Sir Norman Hartnell in 1947, as well as her earliest surviving piece, a silver lamé and tulle bridesmaid dress worn at the age of eight in 1934. This dress, which is considered one of the earliest surviving pieces from her wardrobe, is a testament to the Queen’s love of fashion from a young age.

The exhibition will also feature a green and white gown made for a state banquet in Pakistan in 1961, which incorporates the country’s national colours, highlighting the Queen’s use of fashion as a diplomatic message. This gown, along with other outfits worn on official visits to foreign countries, will demonstrate the Queen’s understanding of the power of fashion to convey messages and build relationships.

The display will not only showcase the Queen’s formal attire but also her more everyday clothes, including riding jackets, tartan skirts, and headscarves. These everyday items will provide a glimpse into the Queen’s personal style and her ability to balance formality and informality.

The exhibition’s curator, Caroline de Guitaut, described the display as a celebration of the Queen’s “uniquely British style” and her “thoughtful style choices” over the course of her lifetime. “The Queen’s fashion was not just about following trends, but about creating a sense of continuity and tradition,” de Guitaut said.

The exhibition will also include design sketches and handwritten correspondence about clothing choices, giving visitors a glimpse into the Queen’s fashion decision-making process. These documents will reveal the Queen’s attention to detail and her commitment to using British designers and craftsmen whenever possible.

The display will be a testament to the Queen’s exceptional sense of style and her understanding of the power of fashion to convey messages and tell stories. The exhibition is set to open at the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace next spring and will be a must-see for fashion enthusiasts and royal watchers alike.

Key Dates:

Exhibition opening: Spring 2026

Exhibition duration: [TBD]

Location: King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace