In 2026, to mark the what would have been the 100th birthday of Elizabeth II, The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace will present the most extensive exhibition of the late monarch’s wardrobe ever staged.
‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style’ promises to give royal watchers an unprecedented look at the clothing legacy of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, detailing the evolution of her iconic style.
Featuring approximately 200 items – with around half on public display for the first time – the exhibition will chronicle ten decades of fashion, from infancy to her final years. Visitors will be taken on a journey through her transition from Princess to Sovereign, with the exhibition showcasing formal and ceremonial attire but also her off-duty looks.
Alongside garments, the exhibition will also unveil jewellery, hats, shoes, and accessories, enriched by never-before-seen design sketches, fabric samples, and handwritten correspondence. These behind-the-scenes materials offer a rare glimpse into the thoughtful, collaborative process behind dressing the world’s most photographed woman, as well as her personal involvement in shaping her public image through fashion.
From the earliest days of her life, the young Princess Elizabeth’s wardrobe captured public imagination. One of the exhibition’s highlights is a rare childhood piece never before shown to the public: a delicate silver lamé and tulle bridesmaid dress created by Edward Molyneux, worn by the Princess at age eight for the 1934 wedding of her uncle, the Duke of Kent, to Princess Marina of Greece.
As the Princess came of age during the ascendance of British couture in the 1940s, she forged a pivotal partnership with Norman Hartnell. Hartnell would become the principal architect of her royal image, designing both her 1947 wedding gown and her 1953 Coronation dress, which will both on display.
Visitors will see a selection of evening gowns that reflect both changing fashion and her enduring elegance — from the skirts of the 1950s, crafted by Hartnell and Hardy Amies, to the flowing dresses of the 1970s by Ian Thomas, making their first public appearance.
A particular focus of the exhibition will be the Queen’s masterful use of clothing as diplomatic language. One standout piece is a Hartnell-designed white gown created for a 1961 State Banquet in Karachi, featuring a striking emerald-green pleat that honours Pakistan’s national colours.
In later years, Elizabeth became equally recognised for her relaxed, countryside look. The exhibition includes a selection of off-duty pieces, from tailored riding jackets and tartan skirts to silk headscarves.
To accompany the exhibition, a commemorative book titled ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style’ will be released. Authored by Caroline de Guitaut, the exhibition’s curator, with contributions from leading fashion historians and designers, the volume will delve deeply into the Queen’s style legacy and her unwavering support of the British fashion industry.
Royal Collection Trust. Photographer: Jon Stokes.)
Caroline de Guitaut 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.
‘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.’
