A new official publication celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's fashion legacy will be released to coincide with what would have been her 100th birthday on 21 April 2026.
Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style, published by the Royal Collection Trust, reveals the late monarch's "surprisingly experimental" approach to dressing during her seven decades on the throne.
Dame Anna Wintour, the global editorial director of American Vogue, has penned the foreword for the volume.
The fashion industry titan, who received her damehood in 2017, is understood to pay tribute to the Queen's influence on 20th-century British fashion.
Queen Elizabeth II's unique fashion will be showcased in a new book
|GETTY
Author Caroline de Guitaut, a surveyor of the King's works of art, demonstrates that Britain's longest-serving monarch was "surprisingly fashion-conscious" throughout her reign.
The book draws on the largest surviving dress collection of any female British sovereign or consort, comprising approximately 4,000 garments held within the Royal Collection.
Set for release on March 26 as part of centenary celebrations, the publication promises an "unprecedented" glimpse into this remarkable archive.
De Guitaut's work traces the Queen's sartorial journey from her earliest years and initial couture pieces through to the ceremonial gowns and vibrant daywear that became her signature.
More than 400 images illustrate the volume, featuring previously unseen designer sketches, fabric samples and historical photographs displaying hundreds of items from her wardrobe.
The book organises her fashion legacy through thematic chapters, a chronological timeline and profiles of the designers who shaped her distinctive appearance, including Hardy Amies and Norman Hartnell.
Among the notable pieces featured is the satin and cotton dress worn by an 11-year-old Princess Elizabeth at her father's coronation in 1937, alongside the first formal gown she wore upon becoming heir presumptive.
The book will showcase unseen looks for Queen Elizabeth II
|ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST
Her day dresses inspired by Dior's revolutionary "New Look" from the late 1940s also feature prominently.
The Queen's accessories demonstrated "an array of colourful and unexpected choices", according to de Guitaut, including "surprisingly experimental headwear ranging from the turban-like styles of the 1960s to the 'flying saucers' of the 1980s and 1990s".
Her talent for diplomatic dressing receives attention, such as selecting a yellow satin gown for her 1961 tour of India, Pakistan and Nepal, recognising the colour's significance representing health and prosperity in those nations.
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The publication also examines her "off-duty style" of riding jackets, silk headscarves and tartan skirts, reflecting "her fondness for horses and the outdoors".
The book accompanies a major Buckingham Palace exhibition titled Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, which opens at The King's Gallery on April 10.
Approximately 200 items will be displayed, with around half appearing publicly for the first time.
The exhibition explores both her practical, informal wardrobe and her broader influence on British fashion.
The book will launch in April
|ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST
The late Queen, who died in September 2022 aged 96, championed the nation's fashion industry and craftsmanship throughout her reign.
Her "famous formula" for official engagements consisted of a brightly coloured day dress paired with a matching coat, hat and pearl necklace.
She became instantly recognisable through her clean-cut coats, architectural hats, jersey gloves and her much-loved sturdy shoes and handbags.
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