London: The changing fashions of the late Queen Elizabeth II are set to be showcased in a major exhibition next year at Buckingham Palace. The exhibition promises to offer a comprehensive look at the Queen’s wardrobe, featuring approximately 200 items, including dresses, jewelry, hats, and shoes, in what is claimed to be the largest ever display of the late Queen’s clothing.
According to BBC, the exhibition will include items from her childhood through the decades of her long reign, coinciding with the centenary of her birth. One of the earliest surviving pieces from her wardrobe is a silver lamé and tulle bridesmaid dress, worn at the age of eight in 1934 at the wedding of her uncle, the Duke of Kent.
Clothing in the exhibition will also reflect the Queen’s use of fashion as a diplomatic tool, such as a green and white gown made for a state banquet in Pakistan in 1961, incorporating the country’s national colors. More relaxed, printed dresses from the 1970s, along with design sketches and handwritten correspondence about clothing choices, will also be on display.
The exhibition will not only feature the late Queen’s formal attire but also her more everyday clothing, including riding jackets, tartan skirts, and headscarves. “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,” said the exhibition’s curator, Caroline de Guitaut.
Caroline de Guitaut further explained that the display aims to “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.”