Buckingham Palace is set to host the largest exhibition ever dedicated to the fashion of Queen Elizabeth II, marking the centenary of the late monarch’s birth in 2026. Titled Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, the exhibition will showcase around 200 items spanning all ten decades of her life, with more than half being displayed publicly for the first time. The collection is a rich tapestry of her attire, including iconic gowns, jewellery, hats, shoes, accessories, design sketches, and fabric samples.

Among the standout pieces is a silver lamé and tulle bridesmaid dress by Edward Molyneux, worn by the Princess Elizabeth as an eight-year-old bridesmaid at the 1934 wedding of her uncle, the Duke of Kent, to Princess Marina of Greece. The exhibition also features her famous wedding and coronation gowns by Norman Hartnell, highlighting the craftsmanship of one of Britain’s celebrated designers. One gown of special note is a white Hartnell creation worn at a 1961 state banquet in Karachi, designed to incorporate Pakistan’s national colours through an emerald-green pleat down the back, exemplifying how Elizabeth II used fashion as a subtle form of diplomatic expression throughout her reign.

This forthcoming exhibition runs from spring to autumn 2026, with tickets going on sale in November 2025, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the sartorial life of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

This new exhibition builds on a tradition of Royal Collection Trust showcases that explore royal style and history. A notable precedent was in 2016, when Buckingham Palace hosted Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen’s Wardrobe to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday. That event highlighted over 150 outfits worn during the Queen’s life, also featuring creations from designers such as Hartnell, Hardy Amies, and Ian Thomas. These exhibits not only celebrated fashion but also tied the garments to significant national moments, underscoring the symbolic resonance of royal attire.

In the broader royal context, Buckingham Palace will also present The Edwardians: Age of Elegance in The King’s Gallery from April to November 2025. This exhibition explores the lavish lives and tastes of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, alongside King George V and Queen Mary, showcasing over 300 items from the Royal Collection. Among these treasures is Queen Alexandra’s gold coronation dress, displayed publicly for the first time in over three decades. This show offers a backdrop of early 20th-century aristocratic opulence and change, setting the scene for how royal style has evolved through successive generations.

Alongside the palace exhibitions, Hillborough Castle is hosting Royal Style in the Making, an exhibition running until January 2026. It offers an intimate look at the relationship between royal clients and their designers, displaying key pieces including the toile used in creating Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s 1937 coronation gown. This exhibition underscores the collaborative artistry behind royal fashion and deepens understanding of the craftsmanship involved in these historical wardrobes.

Together, these linked exhibitions provide a layered narrative about British royal fashion, from Edwardian grandeur through to the pragmatic yet symbolic modernity of Elizabeth II’s wardrobe. The forthcoming Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style marks not only a centenary commemoration but a profound celebration of how royal dress shapes and reflects royal identity, diplomacy, and continuity across a changing century.

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Source: Noah Wire Services