Queen Elizabeth’s Iconic Outfits—Including Her 1947 Wedding Dress—Will Be Showcased in New Exhibition

Her wardrobe will be on display coinciding with what would have been her 100th birthday in April 2026.

The Gist

• In what’s being billed as the largest-ever exhibition of her extensive wardrobe, Queen Elizabeth’s most iconic looks will go on display next April.
• The late Queen—who died at 96 years old in 2022—would have turned 100 years old in April 2026.
• Among the nearly 200 dresses and accessories on display will be Her late Majesty’s 1947 wedding dress and 1953 coronation gown, both designed by Norman Hartnell.

Queen Elizabeth’s “enduring fashion legacy” will be celebrated in what is being heralded as the largest-ever exhibition of her wardrobe.

Beginning on what would have been the late Queen’s 100th birthday in April 2026, around 200 dresses and accessories will be on display at the King’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace, including her 1947 wedding dress and her 1953 coronation gown, both by Norman Hartnell.

According to People, about half of the outfits in the exhibition have never been on display like this before, including dresses from her childhood. The looks will be shown alongside fabric samples, design sketches, and handwritten correspondence, offering a glimpse into Her late Majesty’s life through a fashion lens like never before.

“Over the course of Queen Elizabeth II’s remarkably long reign, her distinctive style became instantly recognizable around the world, bolstering the British fashion industry and influencing generations of designers and couturiers,” Caroline de Guitaut, the curator of the exhibition, said in a July 21 statement. “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 Queen Elizabeth’s uniquely British style and her enduring fashion legacy,” she continued.

Known for her wide array of colorful outfits—because she had to be seen to be believed, as the Queen herself once said—and her skill at diplomatic dressing, the Queen’s exhibition will be accompanied by a book written by de Guitaut, Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style. It will feature contributions by fashion experts and designers who will discuss Queen Elizabeth’s style and her role in promoting British fashion, which she did throughout her long life. The Queen died at 96 years old on September 8, 2022, following a history-making 70-year reign.