Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style will explore the evolution of Queen Elizabeth II’s style throughout her public and private life, and showcase some of her iconic royal outfits.
A collection of over 200 items, including her clothing, jewellery, hats, shoes and accessories will go on show at Buckingham Palace through the Northern Hemisphere summer next year.
An “archive” of clothes owned by the late Queen, who died at the age of 96 in 2022, has been retained by The Royal Collection trust, the organisers of the exhibition.
The 2026 exhibition has been timed to coincide with the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, with the display expected to open close to what would have been her 100th birthday, 21 April.
“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,” says Caroline de Guitaut, exhibition curator and Surveyor of The King’s Works of Art.
See more: All the fantastic hats worn by Her Majesty
She said the show will “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.”
Among the star pieces in the collection will be her wedding dress, made in 1947 by the designer Sir Norman Hartnell. One of the earliest garments included is a silver lamé 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.
The selections will spotlight her inclusion of diplomatically significant emblems and colours during overseas tours as well as favourite ‘off-duty choices such as shrap riding jackets, tartan skirts and silk headscarves.
An inside look at the Queen’s process for choosing her clothes will also be revealed though never-before-seen design sketches, fabric samples and handwritten correspondence. These pieces are said to show the close involvement she had in the direction and design of what she wore.
Exact dates will be confirmed when tickets go on sale in November 2025.
