Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style
This spring, Buckingham Palace hosts Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, a major cultural event celebrating the late monarch’s centenary. The exhibition runs from April 10 to October 18, 2026, at The King’s Gallery, offering visitors a unique insight into a century of royal fashion and British elegance.
Exhibition Highlights
The display features approximately 200 garments and accessories, many revealed to the public for the first time. It traces the evolution of Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe from her childhood outfits to the grand gowns worn during her reign.
- The collection reflects ten decades of royal life and British fashion trends.
- Each piece symbolizes duty, diplomacy, and personal expression.
- Visitors can see design sketches, fabric samples, and handwritten notes, showing the Queen’s close collaboration with her couturiers.
Notable Items
Among the standout pieces is one of the earliest surviving couture dresses: a silver lamé bridesmaid gown designed by Edward Molyneux for the 1934 wedding of the Duke of Kent.
Curator Caroline de Guitaut describes how the exhibition reveals "how Elizabeth II used clothing as both art and symbol."
Curatorial Perspective
The exhibition provides an intimate and visual story of how fashion intertwined with the Queen’s public and private life, capturing changes in style and the significance of her wardrobe choices.
Summary: The exhibition offers an elegant glimpse into Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion journey, highlighting how her style reflected her evolving role and British cultural shifts over a century.