Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding dress, designed by Norman Hartnell

The largest ever exhibition of Elizabeth II’s fashion will be staged at Buckingham Palace next year to mark the centenary of her birth.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, will chart the story of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch through some 200 items – around half of which will be on display for the first time.

Alongside clothing, jewellery, hats, shoes and accessories, visitors will have the chance to view for the first time design sketches, fabric samples and handwritten correspondence revealing the behind-the-scenes process of dressing the late Queen.

The exhibition promises to shed light on her close involvement in the creation of her wardrobe.

Caroline de Guitaut, the exhibition curator and surveyor of the King’s Works of Art, said: “Over the course of 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.”

The late Queen’s coronation dress by Norman Hartnell

Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation day in 1953 - Central Press/Getty

Ms de Guitaut continued: “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.

“In the year that she would have turned 100 years old, this exhibition will be a celebration of Elizabeth II’s uniquely British style and her enduring fashion legacy.”

On show for the first time will be one of the earliest surviving pieces of couture from the late Queen’s childhood wardrobe – a silver lamé and tulle bridesmaid dress, designed by Edward Molyneux, that she wore aged eight for the 1934 wedding of her uncle, the Duke of Kent, to Princess Marina of Greece.

Princess Elizabeth as a bridesmaid at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, 1934 - Elliott & Fry/Royal Collection Trust

Also on display will be her wedding dress, which she wore in 1947, and her Coronation dress from 1953, both of which were designed by Norman Hartnell.

Visitors will also see examples of the evening wear that was a vital component of the late Queen’s wardrobe as she attended countless receptions, banquets and shows.

The gowns reflect the evolution of fashion trends throughout her 70-year reign – from crinoline-skirted gowns of the 1950s by Hartnell and Hardy Amies to vibrantly printed dresses by Ian Thomas that captured the relaxed glamour of the 1970s.

The exhibition will illustrate both the monarch’s off-duty style and her diplomatic fashion choices on the global stage.

Examples of the late Queen’s use of national emblems and colours during overseas tours will include a white gown designed by Hartnell for a 1961 state banquet in Karachi, which incorporated Pakistan’s national colours with an emerald-green pleat cascading down the back.

Queen Elizabeth II wearing an evening gown in 1956 - Royal Collection Trust

In her later years, Elizabeth II became as recognisable for her off-duty style and classic British tailoring as she was for her couture gowns.

Included will be examples of the many riding jackets, tartan skirts and silk headscarves that came to symbolise her practical everyday style, which is said to inspire contemporary designers to this day.

An official book to mark the centenary, Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style, by Ms de Guitaut will accompany the exhibition. It will feature contributions by fashion experts and designers as they explore the late Queen’s fashion archive.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style will be at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, from spring to autumn 2026. Tickets to go on sale in November 2025.

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