Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, Kings Gallery

My primary memories of the late Queen’s clothing style are from her later years. But of course, she was young once, too. And the excellent Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition showcases just how stylish she was throughout her life.

The exhibition has been put together as part of a special programme of events being run by Buckingham Palace to celebrate 100 years since Queen Elizabeth II’s birth. It was originally planned to run for six months. But after selling out quickly, it was extended to double the duration.

With more than 300 items, many on display for the first time, it is the largest exhibition of the Queen’s fashion ever mounted. There is clothing from all ten decades of her life as she transitioned from being a princess to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. Some of the first items on display are from when the Queen was a baby. Then there are two gorgeous velvet coats with nipped-in waists that she wore as a young woman.

Needless to say, there are some showstopper pieces, including the Queen’s wedding ensemble created by her long-time collaborator Norman Hartnell. The design was inspired by Alessandro Botticelli’s painting Primavera (Spring). The idea of renewal felt appropriate as the 1947 wedding came soon after the Second World War.

Also on display is the Queen’s coronation dress. Hartnell was the designer of this, too, and the Queen asked him to conform to the line of her wedding dress and use white satin. But the Queen also decided that rather than have just silver and gold embroidery, the dress should have coloured thread to show the emblems of the UK’s four nations and other dominions of which she was then Queen.

Embroidery is a big feature of many of the clothes on display, particularly the glamorous evening dresses the Queen wore for state banquets and other functions. Over time, these evolved from the crinoline style to close-fitting shifts. But the embroidery was still key, and the exhibition is a great opportunity to see it at close quarters.

The Queen’s role on the global stage is also covered. There is an amazing array of outfits she wore to events when visiting different countries, always carefully designed to pay tribute to the host nation. Plus lots of day wear for the visits, though of course it wasn’t just clothes. The Queen also needed luggage for her trips, as well as hats, bags and shoes to match every outfit.

I also enjoyed learning more about the process for coming up with outfits. The fashion sketch was key. Fashion designers produced them so the Queen could assess whether a proposed ensemble would meet her needs, and each one was marked yes or no. The sketches are works of art in themselves, so it was good to see some of them on display.

Another great addition to the exhibition are the two dresses and headpieces designed for the Queen and her stunt double to wear for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. People watching were treated to the visual of “the Queen” parachuting into the event after a meeting with James Bond (Daniel Craig) at Buckingham Palace. It was a surprising and memorable moment that demonstrated the Queen’s willingness to have fun.

And I think the Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition is also a memorable event that showcases just what a style icon the late Queen was. The exhibition is taking place at The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace and is currently booking until 18 April 2027.

For more reviews of theatre, art, exhibitions, comedy and music, check the Arts section of my blog.