Everything you need to know about the new Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition
- Where: The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace (SW1A 1AA).
- When: 10 April to 18 April 2027.
- Price: £22 for adults, £14 for 18-24 years-olds, £11 for 5-17 years-olds and disabled visitors, free for under-5s.
Find out about the major new exhibition, which unveils garments spanning every decade of the late Queen’s life – from glittering state gowns to her signature tweed suits – and book your tickets now before they sell out!
What is the new Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition about?
To mark the centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth, The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace is hosting the largest exhibition of the late Queen’s fashion ever staged, from 10 April to 18 April 2027.
Drawn from Queen Elizabeth’s personal fashion archive, the prestigious royal exhibition Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style features a whopping 300 items, with around half on display for the first time.
From exquisite couture eveningwear to impeccably tailored off‑duty ensembles, discover the full breadth of the late Queen’s wardrobe – one of the largest and most significant British fashion collections of the 20th century.
What to expect from this new exhibition
Iconic British designer pieces
Marvel at iconic British designer pieces and famous ensembles worn by the late Queen throughout her life, including couture gowns worn for historic occasions and milestone family moments.
The new exhibition features several magnificent pieces by the late Queen’s most influential designer, Norman Hartnell, with highlights including both her wedding and coronation dresses, an apple-green gown worn for a state banquet given for President Eisenhower at the British Embassy in Washington, DC in 1957, and the crinoline-skirted blue gown and matching bolero, worn for her sister Princess Margaret’s wedding in 1960.
To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s continued influence on the British fashion industry, three world-renowned British designers – Erdem Moralioglu, Richard Quinn and Christopher Kane – also contribute pieces to the exhibition.
Impeccable off-duty style
Alongside superb British designer gowns, the exhibition also highlights the late Queen’s tailored, off-duty wardrobe, instantly recognisable around the world.
Spot some of Queen Elizabeth II’s most famous tweed suits, riding clothes, raincoats and headscarves.
Highly anticipated items include a Harris Tweed jacket and Balmoral tartan skirt designed by Norman Hartnell in the 1950s, a clear plastic raincoat made by the couturier Hardy Amies in the 1960s, and a green coat made by Angela Kelly and worn by the late Queen for official photographs in the last years of her life.
Other exhibition highlights
As well as jewellery, hats, shoes and accessories, visitors also get a chance to admire never-seen-before design sketches and fabric samples offering rare insight into the process of dressing the most famous woman in the world.
Explore the decision-making process and craftsmanship behind each royal outfit with behind-the-scenes fashion illustrations, some with handwritten annotations by designers, the Queen’s dresser or even the late Queen herself!
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style – what not to miss
I had the chance to visit the exhibition during its preview before the official opening, and the sheer number of incredible gowns was the first thing to completely captivate me.
The journey begins with childhood fashion and treasured early items, including the dress Princess Elizabeth wore as a young girl at her parents’ Coronation, before moving into a breathtaking display of rainbow‑bright daywear that became one of her most recognisable signatures. From the very first room, it’s clear just how deeply her style shaped the British fashion landscape.
The Queen’s devotion to the art of accessorising is on full display too. Hats, handbags, silk headscarves and gloves line the glass cases, perfectly paired with the standout colour‑blocked ensembles behind them.
There’s jewellery spanning nearly every decade of her life. Don’t miss her wedding and personal pieces, especially the bracelet designed by Prince Philip for their fifth anniversary – the intricate weave of diamonds, sapphires and rubies is mesmerising.
I especially loved the display featuring the dress she wore for her unforgettable cameo with Daniel Craig at the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony. For the first time, the original dress is shown alongside the specially adapted duplicate created for her stunt double, revealing the hidden structural tweaks that made that dramatic parachute jump into the stadium possible. I recommend taking the time to read the labels and item notes here, they offer such a fun insider’s insight.
And of course, you can’t miss the true “wow moments”: the outfits worn for major personal milestones and defining national events. From the glistening wedding dress to the ensembles marking her Silver, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees, each piece captures a chapter of her 70‑year reign through fashion. It’s a remarkable reminder of how clothing can tell a story – and in her case, an extraordinary one.
How to book tickets
Visit The King’s Gallery and buy tickets now for Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, showcasing a wide‑ranging selection of art and treasures from the Royal Collection.
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