The Royal Collection Trust has announced plans for an unprecedented showcase of some 200 garments worn by Queen Elizabeth II.
It is scheduled to launch at the King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, in spring 2026, what would have been the late monarch's centenary year.
The landmark display will represent the most extensive presentation of the Queen's wardrobe ever assembled, featuring roughly half previously unseen pieces.
The collection spans her entire life, from childhood dresses to the formal attire that defined her 70-year reign.
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|A new fashion expedition will be held to commemorate what would have been her centenary year in 2026
Among the highlights will be her 1947 wedding dress and the 1953 coronation gown, both pivotal pieces in British fashion history.
Caroline de Guitaut, the exhibition's curator and Surveyor of The King's Works of Art, emphasised the global recognition of the late Queen's distinctive appearance.
"Over the course of Queen Elizabeth II's remarkably long reign, her distinctive style became instantly recognisable around the world, bolstering the British fashion industry and influencing generations of designers and couturiers," she said.
De Guitaut highlighted that expedition would reveal the secrets behind the late monarch's myriad of careful fashion choices.
Royal Collection Trust
|The expedition, held at the King's Gallery in Buckingham Palace, will display many of Elizabeth's iconic outfits
"Only now, as the late queen's fashion archive comes under the care of Royal Collection Trust, can we tell the story of a lifetime of thoughtful style choices.
The curator said it would delve into: "Her hands-on role and understanding of the soft power behind her clothing, to the exceptional craftsmanship behind each garment."
"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," she added.
The expedition highlights the influence of Norman Hartnell in shaping the Queen's early royal image, designing both her matrimonial attire for her 1947 union with Prince Philip and her 1953 coronation ensemble.
Royal Collection Trust
|The Queen's deliberate and meaningful fashion choices will be highlighted at the exhibition
A Hartnell creation was also worn to a 1961 state banquet in Karachi exemplified the subtle strength of the monarch's sartorial strategy, featuring Pakistan's national colours as a diplomatic gesture.
Evening attire formed an essential component of the royal wardrobe, with contributions from Hardy Amies and Ian Thomas's distinctive printed designs also featured in the display.
The display will explore the Queen's informal wardrobe choices during Scottish retreats, featuring headscarves, equestrian jackets and tartan skirts that characterised her Balmoral holidays.
An accompanying publication, "Queen Elizabeth II: Fashion and Style", authored by de Guitaut, will feature insights from fashion authorities and designers examining the monarch's influence on British fashion.
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The Royal Collection Trust will announce specific dates and ticketing arrangements in November 2025.
In another recent tribute to the late Queen's legacy, Lord Norman Foster's architectural team recently secured the commission to create the national memorial to celebrate her rule in St James's Park, with a distinctive design that will honour both the late monarch and Prince Philip.
The winning proposal emerged from a shortlist of five concepts and notably includes the Duke of Edinburgh alongside the Queen, reflecting their 73-year marriage that ended with his death in 2021.
The memorial's multi-faceted approach encompasses several elements: a primary statue of the Queen positioned near the Mall, a separate sculpture depicting the royal couple together, landscaped gardens, and the newly named Prince Philip Gate.