The biggest ever exhibition of Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion is opening at Buckingham Palace in 2026

Opulent evening gowns by Norman Hartnell, Harris Tweed suits and the wedding dress worn by the Queen Elizabeth II are just some of the things visitors will be able to see at a new exhibition at Buckingham Palace in 2026, as the palace has announced plans to stage the biggest exhibition of the late Queen’s fashion ever displayed. 

Marking the centenary of the late Lizzie’s birth, in the new year more than 200 items from the Queen’s wardrobe will be displayed at the palace for the landmark exhibit. 

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style will comprise garments from all 10 decades of Her Majesty’s life, from off-duty style at Balmoral to regal ball gowns. Also on display will be never-before-seen design sketches, fabric samples and handwritten correspondence, showing how the Queen was dressed behind the scenes. 

Highlights on show will include the Queen’s 1947 Norman Hartnell wedding dress, her 1953 coronation gown, a Balmoral tartan kilt, and a 1934 bridesmaid dress worn by the Queen as a child. Clothing by contemporary designers – Erdem, Richard Quinn and Christopher Kane – will highlight the Queen’s later wardrobe and her continued influence on the fashion industry. Visitors will get to gawp at a selection of the Queen’s many hats, shoes, accessories and jewellery, while other gems on show will include photographs by Cecil Beaton. 

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.’

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style will open at the King’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace on April 10 2026. Tickets are available to book online now. 

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