Unveiling the Style Legacy of Queen Elizabeth II: Iconic Garments on Display in 2026

It is 100 years since the birth of Queen Elizabeth II, who was a fashion icon in the country she reigned for more than seven decades. Her centenary will be commemorated with an exhibition of her iconic clothes in the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace.

Approximately two hundred items will be on display for the first time from spring until autumn next year under the name Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style. Aimed at creating a glimpse into the Queen’s life, they will feature garments she wore from the time she was a princess until she was crowned queen, as well as others from her more personal sphere, from her off-duty style to her diplomatic attire for the world stage.

An official publication to commemorate the centenary, Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style, will accompany the exhibition. Written by the exhibition’s curator, Caroline de Guitaut, curator of decorative art within the Royal Collection Trust in London and supervisor of The King’s Works of Art, and with contributions from fashion experts and designers, the book will explore Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion archive and her ongoing advocacy for the British fashion industry.

The exhibition of the Queen of England’s most iconic garments will open in 2026

In addition to garments worn by the monarch, jewelry, hats, shoes and accessories will also be on display. With the aim of telling the story of the monarch through fashion, sketches of unpublished designs, fabric samples and handwritten correspondence will be shown where the process of dressing Britain’s longest reigning queen is uncovered.

With her signature classic and colorful closet, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style will feature pieces that reflect the evolution of fashion trends throughout her reign to her more casual style and classic British tailoring, which she wore in her later years.

Elizabeth II was a great follower of the fashion world. In 2018, she attended British designer Richard Quinn’s runway show at London Fashion Week for the first time, breaking British royal protocol to support the country’s industry.