The largest exhibition featuring the fashion of the late Queen Elizabeth II is set to take place at Buckingham Palace next year, celebrating the monarch’s remarkable legacy as the longest-serving queen in British history. This significant display, titled “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life In Style,” will run from April 10 to October 18, 2026, and has been organized to commemorate the centenary of her birth.
Visitors can expect to see approximately 200 items from the queen’s extensive wardrobe, with nearly half of them displayed to the public for the first time. The exhibition will include iconic pieces such as the enchanting gowns she wore for her wedding and coronation, as well as a range of other dresses that reflect her royal stylishness throughout her 70-year reign. Among the highlights will be an 8-year-old Princess Elizabeth’s tulle bridesmaid dress from 1934 and a selection of elegantly tailored couture creations by her favored designer, Norman Hartnell.
Hartnell’s designs include an apple-green gown worn during a state banquet for President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957, as well as the pastel blue outfit she wore for her sister Princess Margaret’s wedding in 1960, in addition to the royal wedding and coronation dresses. The exhibition will also feature items from Elizabeth’s more personal wardrobe, showcasing her off-duty style, which includes riding outfits, Harris tweed jackets, raincoats, and headscarves, complemented by design sketches and fabric samples that offer insight into the fashion process of the queen.
One captivating item from the collection is a transparent raincoat by Hardy Amies, designed in the 1960s to ensure the visibility of the queen’s vibrant outfits regardless of the weather. The exhibition will further showcase contemporary works inspired by the queen’s style from acclaimed British designers, including Erdem Moralioglu, Richard Quinn, and Christopher Kane. Kane points out the significance of the queen’s wardrobe as a living archive of modern fashion history, illustrating the evolution of British fashion and its ties to identity.
This exhibition promises to celebrate not only the fashion but also the enduring influence of Queen Elizabeth II, whose upcoming 100th birthday on April 21, 2026, adds an extra layer of significance to the event. As the world eagerly anticipates this unique opportunity to reflect on her legacy, the exhibition underscores the rich tapestry of history and elegance that defined one of the most significant figures of the 20th and 21st centuries.