Next year, Buckingham Palace will stage the largest exhibition of Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion to date. The exhibit, titled Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, will include not only historically significant pieces like the late monarch’s coronation and wedding gowns, but also pieces from her private off-duty wardrobe.
Roughly half of the approximately 200 items in the exhibition will be on display for the first time, and, per Buckingham Palace, “Behind-the-scenes fashion illustrations, some with handwritten annotations by designers, the Queen’s dresser or even the late Queen herself, will give visitors a glimpse into the thoughtful decision-making and craftsmanship behind each outfit.”
A never-before-displayed sketch by Norman Hartnell of a silver lamé dress designed for the Queen’s State Visit to France in 1972.
“Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe was a masterclass in symbolism, tailoring and British craftsmanship,” exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut said in a statement. “In this landmark exhibition, as well as unveiling garments spanning every decade of the late Queen’s life, we are thrilled to be including works by three contemporary designers who have so successfully reinterpreted her style for the present day, demonstrating how her fashion legacy continues to be woven into the fabric of British design.”
A trio of evening gowns by Ian Thomas, c.1970s.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style opens in The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace on April 10, 2026 and will run through October 18, 2026. Tickets are on sale now.
An accompanying book, Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style is set to be published on March 26, 2026, and will feature reflections from designers including Erdem Moralioglu, Richard Quinn and Christopher Kane as well as a tribute by fashion editor Anna Wintour, an essay by Amy de la Haye, who serves as Professor of Dress History at London College of Fashion, and explorations of “the late Queen’s fashion archive in unprecedented detail,” per Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth’s evening gown, which was designed by Norman Hartnell and worn for a state banquet given for President Eisenhower at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. in 1957, displayed in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.
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Caroline Hallemann is the Digital Director at Town & Country, where she covers culture, society, and entertainment, as well as the British royal family, among a variety of other topics. Caroline is also the author of the forthcoming book, The Kennedys and the Windsors, out in 2026. Prior to leading the digital team at T&C, she served as the brand’s Senior News Editor and Digital News Director, and has previously held positions at Travel + Leisure, DailyCandy, and Parenting Magazine. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and their son, Tommy. You can find her on Instagram at the handle @challemann and on TikTok at @carolinehallemann.
