Queen Elizabeth II’s Style Legacy to Take Centre Stage at Buckingham Palace Exhibition

Download IPFS

A landmark exhibition celebrating the fashion legacy of Queen Elizabeth II is set to open at Buckingham Palace next spring, marking what would have been the late monarch’s 100th birthday. Titled Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, the exhibition will be the most extensive display of her wardrobe to date, offering the public a rare glimpse into the garments and accessories that shaped an era of British identity and soft power.

Curated by the Royal Collection Trust, the exhibition will feature around 200 items spanning nine decades from childhood garments to state occasion ensembles. Among the highlights is the Queen’s 1947 wedding dress, designed by Sir Norman Hartnell, a piece of historic craftsmanship that symbolised post-war hope and continuity. Also included are her coronation robes, ceremonial jewellery, and more personal items like her signature headscarves, riding jackets, and tartan skirts.

The retrospective does not just chart the evolution of royal fashion; it tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II’s unique role in shaping Britain’s global image. Her clothing often carried diplomatic meaning. For example, a striking green and white gown worn during a 1961 state banquet in Pakistan was designed to reflect the host nation’s national colours, an early example of fashion as cultural diplomacy.

The exhibition will also include design sketches and handwritten correspondence between the Queen and her trusted team of designers and dressmakers, offering insight into her meticulous involvement in the styling process. From the elegance of the 1950s to the bold prints of the 1970s, the wardrobe reflects both her taste and the shifting trends of the 20th century.

Caroline de Guitaut, curator of the Royal Collection Trust, emphasised that the exhibition is more than a tribute to fashion; it is a celebration of national identity and continuity through carefully considered presentation. “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. “Her clothing was never just decorative; it was deeply intentional and underscored her hands-on approach to monarchy.”

One of the earliest items on display will be a silver lamé and tulle bridesmaid dress worn by the Queen at just eight years old, showing how early ceremonial life became part of her identity. These early examples sit alongside her practical wardrobe garments chosen for private life at Balmoral or Sandringham that reflect a grounded and consistent aesthetic.

The exhibition is expected to draw significant public interest and offer an elegant reminder of Queen Elizabeth II’s long reign not only as Britain’s longest-serving monarch but also as a style icon whose fashion choices subtly conveyed strength, tradition, and national pride.