This year marks the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth. Now, in London, a new Buckingham Palace exhibition focuses on Queen Elizabeth’s life in style over the decades.
Featuring over 300 items from clothing to jewellery, hats and shoes, this is the largest collection of Queen Elizabeth’s fashion to ever go on show. Visitors will be able to view her Coronation dress, as well as her Norman Hartnell wedding dress and other gowns by the famous fashion designer. Plus, never-before-seen design sketches by Norman – you can see one below – and handwritten correspondence.
The collection also includes a special historic garment that has been worn through generations of the British Royal Family – a Christening robe worn by 62 royal babies.
On the eve of what would have been the late monarch’s 100th birthday, her eldest son, King Charles III, and his wife Queen Camilla, attended a special viewing of the exhibition.
The visit was just one of many events scheduled to commemorate the centenary of Queen Elizabeth’s birth that Their Majesties will partake in.
Here is a preview of some of the fashions on display.
01
Her sister’s wedding
Clothing: Norman Hartnell. Hat: Claude St Cyr.
At Princess Margaret’s nuptials in May 1960, the Queen’s crinoline blue gown and matching bolero jacket were crisp, stylish and elegant while adhering to her famous ‘colour block’ approach.
02
State visit to France (1957)
Clothing: Norman Hartnell.
In a portrait released for the Queen’s 1957 state visit to France, Her Majesty wore a court gown with a fitted bodice overlaid in diamond-lattice beading, along with an order sash.
03
The young bridesmaid
Clothing: Edward Molyneux.
Eight-year-old Princess Elizabeth wore a pretty Edward Molyneux bridesmaid’s dress for the wedding of her uncle, Prince George, to Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark in November 1934.
04
State visit to France (1972)
Clothing: Norman Hartnell.
The Queen wore a silver lamé beaded shift dress on another state visit to France, this time in 1972. Above, is the never-before-seen Sir Norman Hartnell sketch for the gown.
The Royal Trust Collection’s centenary exhibition ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style’ is on display now at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. It runs from April 10 to October 18, 2026.
