n April 1929, Princess Elizabeth appeared on the cover of Time magazine in celebration of her third birthday. The portrait, taken by society photographer Marcus Adams—who had photographed her for Vogue two years earlier—shows the future Queen in a pastel play dress, a string of pearls, and an unmistakably bored expression. The headline read, “P’incess Lilbet, she has set the babe fashion for yellow,” while a Selfridges clerk noted that “every mother wants to buy a little yellow frock or primrose bonnet like Princess Elizabeth’s.”

It’s rather amusing that the young heir had defined a fashion trend before she could spell her own name. Over the following decades, Queen Elizabeth II would turn to court dressers including Norman Hart.

This spring, Buckingham Palace’s King’s Gallery will open a landmark exhibition celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s enduring sense of style. Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style will be the most extensive display of her clothing ever assembled, featuring around 200 garments — nearly half of which have never been seen by the public.

The collection will trace her wardrobe from the grandeur of state occasions to the informality of country life. Highlights include an apple-green gown worn at a 1957 state banquet in Washington, a powder-blue crinoline dress from Princess Margaret’s 1960 wedding, and the tweeds, tartans and headscarves synonymous with Balmoral. Many outfits will appear alongside original design sketches and fabric samples, some bearing the Queen’s own notes, offering a rare glimpse into the meticulous craftsmanship behind her signature style.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style opens at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, on 10 April 2026.