Centenary of late Queen Elizabeth II’s birth celebrated with spectacular exhibition of her fashion in London

As the United Kingdom celebrates in 2026 the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Queen Elizabeth II, The King’s Gallery presents an exceptional exhibition in London. 

More than 300 pieces from Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe are on display at Buckingham Palace as the largest-ever exhibition of the late Queen’s fashion, marks the 100th anniversary of her birth.

Drawn from Queen Elizabeth’s personal fashion archive—now part of the Royal Collection—the exhibition traces the evolution of her world-famous style across nearly a century of public life.

Fashion spanning 70 years of reign

More than half of the items have never been displayed before, including her wedding necklaces, a newly exhibited tiara, treasured childhood pieces, and even the dress worn by her stunt double during the 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut said, “Queen Elizabeth took a deep and thoughtful interest in every aspect of her wardrobe, using fashion as diplomacy while consistently supporting the UK fashion industry. In this centenary year, we are thrilled to open her fashion archive on this unprecedented scale and hope visitors will discover new layers of meaning in her instantly recognizable, uniquely British style.”

The exhibition explores Princess Elizabeth’s earliest surviving garments and her first steps into couture. Highlights include her historic christening robe, childhood ballet shoes, a tiny fairy costume, gold lamé dresses made for Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret by Jeanne Lanvin, and jewel-toned velvet coats by Norman Hartnell from the late 1940s.

Among the highlights are outfits worn for major personal milestones, including the dress, robe, and coronet she wore as a child at her parents’ coronation; her wedding dress; a rare surviving gown from her first Commonwealth tour as Queen Elizabeth in 1953–54; and ensembles chosen for the weddings of her sister Princess Margaret and cousin Princess Alexandra.

Visitors will also see garments worn during defining moments in national history, from the Coronation dress that marked the beginning of a new Elizabethan era to the Tudor-inspired outfit worn for King Charles III’s investiture as Prince of Wales. Outfits from her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilees highlight major chapters of her 70-year reign.

The exhibition also features ensembles worn for meetings with some of the 20th century’s most notable figures, from President Dwight D. Eisenhower to Marilyn Monroe.

A standout is the dress worn during her memorable cameo with Daniel Craig at the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony. For the first time, the original dress is displayed alongside the specially adapted duplicate created for her stunt double, showing the hidden structural changes that made the dramatic stadium parachute jump possible.

Exceptional collection of jewelry… and hats!

A central display of evening gowns is complemented by jewelry spanning nearly every decade of the Queen’s life, including pieces never shown before. Among them are wedding gifts such as the Queen Caroline and Queen Anne pearl necklaces, presented by her parents and displayed publicly for the first time.

Also featured is Queen Mary’s Diamond Fringe Tiara, shown for the first time in almost 20 years. Created for her grandmother and lent to the young bride by her mother, it remains one of the most iconic royal jewels.

Other personal pieces include the bracelet designed by Prince Philip for their fifth wedding anniversary, along with the Queen Elizabeth II Aquamarine Tiara and the Burmese Ruby Tiara, both commissioned by the Queen herself. The Burmese Ruby Tiara is on public display for the first time.

In later life, Queen Elizabeth became instantly recognizable for her signature formula of color-blocked coats and dresses. A rainbow display of daywear shows there was hardly a color she did not embrace.

A vibrant presentation of more than 50 hats—from the turbans and berets of the 1960s and 1970s to the sculptural “flying saucers” of the 1980s and 1990s—demonstrates her surprisingly experimental approach to millinery.

Accessories completing her signature look are also on display for the first time, including her trusted Launer London handbags, silk headscarves, shoes, gloves, and the transparent umbrellas with colored trim that ensured her outfits remained visible in every kind of weather. Personal items such as sunglasses, binoculars, monogrammed vanity cases, and travel trunks are also on display.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors gain unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the process of dressing one of the world’s most famous women. Previously unseen archival materials—including fabric samples, and design sketches annotated in her own hand—reveal her close collaboration with couturiers.

The exhibition closes with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth’s lasting influence on British fashion, presenting pieces by leading contemporary designers alongside items from her wardrobe. Richard Quinn, Christopher Kane, and Erdem Moralıoğlu each reinterpret elements of her signature style in modern collections.

Visitors can also explore the London exhibition through a multimedia guide narrated by British actor Keeley Hawes, as well as the official centenary publication Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style and a curated retail collection created by major British brands.