WIREDGOV

The Royal Family marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II through a series of commemorative events in April 2026, including a visit by The King and Queen to a Royal Collection Trust exhibition, a personal message from The King broadcast on the centenary itself, engagements at the British Museum and in The Regent’s Park, and a reception at Buckingham Palace celebrating the life, service and enduring legacy of Her late Majesty.

Visit to Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at The King’s Gallery

Monday, 20 April 2026

The King and Queen visited Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, a new exhibition curated by Royal Collection Trust and shown at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.

During the visit, Their Majesties toured the largest and most comprehensive presentation of Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion ever mounted, viewing items which traced her life and reign through dress, including her christening robe, bridesmaid dresses, wedding dress and coronation dress. Accompanied by the exhibition’s curator, Caroline de Guitaut, Surveyor of The King’s Works of Art, The King and Queen heard how more than 300 items from the Royal Collection were brought together, many of which had never before been displayed.

Their Majesties also met Royal Collection Trust staff and contemporary fashion designers who had contributed to the exhibition, including Erdem Moralıoğlu, as well as students from The King’s Foundation’s Chanel and le19M Métiers d’Art Embroidery, Millinery and Atelier Fellowship programmes, whose studies had drawn inspiration from the exhibition.

The visit formed the first in a series of engagements marking the centenary of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II.

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