A major exhibition showcasing the evolving style of the late Queen Elizabeth II is set to open next year at Buckingham Palace.
Approximately 200 items, including dresses, jewelry, hats, and shoes, will be featured in what is being hailed as the most extensive display of the late Queen’s attire to date.
The exhibition, which will encompass pieces from her childhood through her decades-long reign, will coincide with the centenary of her birth.
Among the highlights of “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style” will be her wedding dress, designed in 1947 by Sir Norman Hartnell.
Opening at the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace next spring, the exhibition will chronicle Queen Elizabeth’s life through the garments she wore for both official engagements and private moments.
The Royal Collection Trust, which announced the exhibition, now oversees the “archive” of clothing belonging to the late Queen, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 96.
One of the earliest surviving pieces is a silver lamé and tulle bridesmaid dress, worn by then-Princess Elizabeth at the age of eight in 1934 for the wedding of her uncle, the Duke of Kent.
Clothing also served a diplomatic function, as exemplified by a green and white gown created for a state banquet in Pakistan in 1961, incorporating the country’s national colors.
More casual, printed dresses reflecting the fashion trends of the 1970s will also be on display, alongside design sketches and handwritten correspondence related to wardrobe selections.
The late Queen’s everyday attire, including riding jackets, tartan skirts, and headscarves, will also be showcased.
“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,” stated Caroline de Guitaut, the exhibition’s curator.
She added that the display will utilize fashion to “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.”
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