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.
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