In honor of what would have been the monarch’s 100th birthday, three British designers are exhibiting their work in an exhibition that will celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth’s iconic fashion legacy.
Three world-renowned British designers, Erdem Moralioglu, Richard Quinn, and Christopher Kane, are set to contribute pieces to the exhibition Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, which will open at Buckingham Palace in the spring of 2019 in order to immortalize her iconic wardrobe and continue to influence the British fashion industry.
The largest display of Queen Elizabeth II’s clothing ever will be the largest, with almost 200 of the items on display for the first time ever.
The exhibition will show off a variety of clothing from the late Queen’s ten decades of clothing, including exquisite eveningwear and expertly crafted off-duty attire. One of the largest and most significant British fashion collections of the 20th century will be revealed to royal fans when they discover the entire breadth of the late Queen’s wardrobe.
Each designer involved in the collection has taken inspiration from various wardrobe components and created pieces or collections in line with Queen Elizabeth’s distinctive style. The three designers will each make an ensemble appearance for the exhibition that will be displayed alongside a piece from the late Queen’s personal fashion archive, each piece chosen from one of these previous collections.
The three designers’ reflections on Her late Majesty’s fashion legacy will also be included in the official book, Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style, which will examine the late Queen’s fashion archive in unprecedented depth.
The exhibit featured Richard Quinn, the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, who stated, “There is no doubt that Queen Elizabeth II’s influence on British fashion was enormously influenced by her influence over the course of her 90 years.” She consistently shined a light on British designers, highlighting the relevance and significance of British fashion around the world.
One of the most significant living archives in contemporary fashion history is Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe, according to Christopher Kane. Her clothing tells the story of Britain and its changing identity through fashion, from the court dressmaker’s decline to the rise of couturiers like Hartnell and Hardy Amies. It is a masterclass in silhouette, construction, repetition, symbolism, and, perhaps most importantly, restraint for designers and students.
Pod Save the King – Most recent episode
Visitors to the exhibition will also find previously unreleased and rarely seen items from the late Queen’s wardrobe, which has since been transferred to the Royal Collection and is now a part of the Royal Collection, as well as design sketches and fabric samples that provide a glimpse into the dressing process of the long-reigning monarch.
Caroline de Guitaut, curator of the exhibition, described Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe as a masterwork of symbolism, tailoring, and British craftsmanship. We are delighted to be including works by three contemporary designers who have successfully reinterpreted her style for the present day, demonstrating how her fashion legacy continues to be woven into the fabric of British design in this groundbreaking exhibition, which also features garments from every decade of the late Queen’s life.
In April 2026, the late Queen’s birthday would have coincided with the publication of both the book and the exhibition. Tickets are on sale right now for the exhibition, which will take place in Buckingham Palace, from April 10 through October 18 2026.
