Queen Elizabeth II had the eyes of the world on her for more than 70 years as she ruled Britain and the Commonwealth. Her style – a blend of regal formality and grace – became synonymous with her public role and remains one of the most recognisable in modern history.
Now, a new exhibition at The King's Gallery in Buckingham Palace charts the Queen’s life through clothing, from her earliest years to her final appearances. Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life and Style spans 10 decades, tracing her evolution from young princess to Britain’s longest-serving monarch, and the most famous woman in the world.
What are the Queen's most famous outfits?
The display is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of the Queen’s fashion ever staged. More than 200 items are on show, including her wedding gown and Coronation dress, alongside the colourful tailored coats and matching hats she favoured in later years for royal engagements. Visitors can admire the extraordinary craftmanship and detail of her wardrobe and view handwritten correspondence and design sketches.
Among the highlights are her christening gown – first commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1841 and worn by 62 royal babies since – and the turquoise silk taffeta ensemble worn to Princess Margaret’s wedding in 1960. The striking outfit, featuring a bolero jacket, structured skirt, and hat trimmed with silk roses, was designed by her longtime dressmaker Norman Hartnell.
The exhibition also explores her off-duty style, notably the practical yet refined look she championed in the countryside. Her signature combination of a Harris tweed jacket and Balmoral tartan skirt, first seen in 1950 and also created by Hartnell, became a staple of her personal wardrobe and a symbol of enduring British craftsmanship.
How long does Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life and Style run?
Opening on Friday April 10 and running until 18 October 2026, the exhibition pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in the year that marks the centenary of her birth. Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut says: “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.”
Under 5s go free and tickets start at £1 for those on Universal Credit and other benefits and can be bought here.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life and Style opens on Friday 10 April at the King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.
