The centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth will be marked in 2026 by the largest exhibition of her fashion ever staged, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday.
The show, 'Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style,' will open at The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London from spring to autumn 2026, featuring around 200 items, half of which will be on public display for the first time.
The exhibition will trace Britain’s longest-reigning monarch’s life through clothing worn across 10 decades – from her childhood as Princess Elizabeth to her reign as Queen.
It will feature couture, jewellery, hats, shoes and accessories, as well as design sketches, fabric samples and handwritten correspondence revealing her involvement in her wardrobe’s creation.
“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,” said curator Caroline de Guitaut, Surveyor of The King’s Works of Art.
“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.”
Among the earliest items on display is the silver lamé bridesmaid dress designed by Edward Molyneux, which Princess Elizabeth wore at age eight for the 1934 wedding of her uncle, the Duke of Kent, to Princess Marina of Greece.
British couturier Norman Hartnell, who became Elizabeth’s most influential designer from the 1940s through the 1970s, is prominently featured.
Hartnell designed both her 1947 wedding dress and her 1953 coronation gown, which cemented his status as Britain’s leading couturier.
Eveningwear was a vital component of her wardrobe. Visitors will see crinoline-skirted gowns of the 1950s by Hartnell and Hardy Amies, as well as a striking evening dress from 1961 incorporating Pakistan’s national colours.
The cream satin gown features a dramatic emerald-green pleat cascading down the back and was worn to a state banquet in Karachi.
The exhibition will also include brightly coloured chiffon evening gowns by Ian Thomas from the 1970s, capturing the relaxed glamour of the decade, which will be shown for the first time.
In her later years, the Queen became equally recognisable for her off-duty style.
Impeccably cut riding jackets, tartan skirts, and her trademark silk headscarves will be displayed, showing her practical yet elegant everyday fashion choices that continue to inspire designers today.
An official book, Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style, written by de Guitaut with contributions from fashion experts and designers, will accompany the exhibition.
Tickets go on sale in November 2025.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at eas...
Ismail Omar Guelleh has been re-elected for a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, according to state media, extending his nearly three-...
Kazakhstan and Armenia are moving to deepen bilateral ties as shifting dynamics in the South Caucasus reopen long-blocked transport routes and crea...
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the...
Israeli and Lebanese envoys are set to meet in Washington on Tuesday in a rare U.S.-driven diplomatic effort to halt escalating violence between...
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at easing regional tensions, as Pakistan hosts the discussions. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are set to hold rare negotiations in Washington next Tuesday.
Ismail Omar Guelleh has been re-elected for a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, according to state media, extending his nearly three-decade hold on power in the small but strategically significant East African nation.
Kazakhstan and Armenia are moving to deepen bilateral ties as shifting dynamics in the South Caucasus reopen long-blocked transport routes and create new economic opportunities.
Australia and Singapore have agreed to deepen cooperation on energy security as global fuel markets come under strain from disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Amid fragile calm, António Guterres urged constructive U.S.- Iran talks, while Pope Leo XIV warned violence is spreading. Lebanon's President said an Israeli strike killed 13 security personnel in Nabatieh.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Vice President JD Vance have arrived in Islamabad for talks aimed at easing regional tensions, as Pakistan hosts the discussions. Meanwhile, Lebanon and Israel are set to hold rare negotiations in Washington next Tuesday.
Memorial events were held in Tehran’s main squares on Wednesday (8 April) to mark the 40th day since the killing of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died during U.S.-Israeli attacks on 28 February.
Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until 31 May due to the Iran crisis, raising fears of significant revenue losses for Indian carriers, industry letters show.
Rising living and fuel costs are dampening spending during Thailand’s Songkran festival, traditionally one of the country’s busiest holiday periods, as consumers and vendors scale back celebrations.
This summer’s Wireless Festival - a major London music event showcasing global hip-hop and R&B artists - has been cancelled after the UK government blocked headliner Kanye West from entering the country.
Kanye West has been banned from entering the UK by the British government, following a backlash over his planned headline performance at London's Wireless Festival in July. It comes after the festival attacted criticism for booking the U.S. rapper, who had previously made antisemitic remarks.
Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion was hospitalised in New York City after she fell ill mid-performance during a Broadway production of 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical'.
The European Broadcasting Union and global entertainment company Voxovation have announced that the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia will take place in 2026, with Bangkok selected to host the inaugural edition.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment