In 2026, to mark the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace in London will play host to the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of the late Queen’s fashion ever mounted.

Queen Elizabeth II, Baron, 1956. Credit: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust.

Through approximately 200 items, around half on display for the first time, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style will chart the remarkable story of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch through clothing worn in all ten decades of her life: from birth to adulthood, from princess to queen, and from off-duty style to diplomatic dressing for the global stage.  

Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion archive is one of the largest and most important surviving collections of 20th-century British fashion and now forms part of the Royal Collection, one of the world’s great art collections, with over a million objects held in trust by The King for his successors and the nation.

Queen Elizabeth II when Princess Elizabeth of York, Elliott & Fry, 1934. Credit: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust

Alongside clothing, jewellery, hats, shoes and accessories, visitors will discover never-before-seen design sketches, fabric samples and handwritten correspondence that reveal the behind-the-scenes process of dressing the most famous woman in the world and shed new light on the late Queen’s close involvement in the creation of her wardrobe. 

Caroline de Guitaut, exhibition curator and Surveyor of The King’s Works of Art, said: “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. 

“Only now, as the late Queen's fashion archive comes under the care of Royal Collection Trust, can we tell the story of a lifetime of thoughtful style choices – from her hands-on role and understanding of the soft power behind her clothing, to the exceptional craftsmanship behind each garment. 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.”

The Royal Collection Trust is a charity caring for the Royal Collection and welcoming visitors to the royal palaces.

Evening Gown, Norman Hartnell, 1956. Credit: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust

From birth, Princess Elizabeth’s clothing was a topic of national fascination. On show for the first time will be one of the earliest surviving pieces of couture from her childhood wardrobe: the silver lamé and tulle bridesmaid dress, designed by Edward Molyneux, that she wore aged eight for the 1934 wedding of her uncle, the Duke of Kent, to Princess Marina of Greece. 

Bridesmaid’s Dress, Edward Molyneux, 1934. Credit: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust. Photographer: Jon Stokes.

As British couture rose to prominence in the 1940s, Princess Elizabeth began working with Norman Hartnell, who became her most influential designer over the next three decades. His position as Britain's leading couturier was cemented when he was chosen to design her wedding dress in 1947 and her Coronation dress in 1953, both of which will be on display.

Princess Elizabeth’s Wedding Dress, Norman Hartnell, 1947. Credit: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust.

Eveningwear was a vital component of the Queen’s wardrobe, and visitors will see stunning examples that reflect the evolution of fashion trends throughout her long reign – from the crinoline-skirted gowns of the 1950s by Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies to fluid, vibrantly printed dresses by Ian Thomas that capture the relaxed glamour of the 1970s, on show for the first time.

Evening Gown, Norman Hartnell, 1961. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust.

The exhibition, which runs from 10 April to 18 October 2026, will explore the Queen’s use of diplomatically significant emblems and colours in her wardrobe for overseas tours, as shown in an ingenious white gown designed by Norman Hartnell for a 1961 State Banquet in Karachi, which incorporates Pakistan’s national colours through a dramatic emerald-green pleat cascading down the back. 

Evening Gowns, Ian Thomas, c.1970s. Credit: © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust. Photographer: Jon Stokes.

In her later years, Queen Elizabeth became as recognisable for her off-duty style and classic British tailoring as she was for her couture gowns. From impeccably cut riding jackets to tartan skirts and silk headscarves, visitors will see never-before-displayed examples of her practical everyday style, which continues to inspire contemporary designers to this day. 

If you or your group would like to include a visit to Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style on a tailor-made trip to London or the United Kingdom in 2026, please do contact our friendly team today. Or perhaps you would like to explore the UK's history with a tour of its royal castles and palaces? If so, we can help!