Magazine Feature Articles
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style: a CountryClubuk Private View at the King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace: review
14
Apr
Apr
Something quietly powerful lies in seeing history not as a distant image behind glass, but in the very fabrics that once moved with a monarch. This is at the heart of the new exhibition Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. CountryClubuk members were fortunate to attend the first private view — and to experience it in the most memorable way possible.
Guided personally by the exhibition’s curator, Caroline de Guitaut, Surveyor of The King’s Works of Art, we received insights delivered with both scholarly depth and evident affection. She revealed The Queen’s own hands-on involvement in the creation of her wardrobe: from the careful selection of fabrics and embellishments to the precision of fittings, and the thoughtful balance between personal expression and public duty.What emerges — and was so eloquently drawn out during our private tour — is that these garments were never incidental. They formed a considered visual language, shaped by close collaboration with designers. The Queen was a true champion of British fashion, helping to nurture and elevate a home-grown couture industry at a time when French influence still prevailed. Her lifelong partnerships with Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies, among others, played a significant part in this quiet revolution.
Alongside the great ceremonial pieces, it is the more intimate elements — design sketches, fabric swatches and handwritten correspondence — that illuminate the Queen’s engaged partnership with her designers. They portray a monarch who was no passive wearer of couture, but an active and thoughtful collaborator in its creation. Practical details, too, carried quiet purpose: the transparent coat and umbrella, for instance, designed so that not even the British weather could obscure her presence.
Much is spoken of the Queen’s use of colour — it was revealing that, with her alabaster skin, she could wear virtually any shade. We heard about Norman Hartnell’s fondness for dressing The Queen in subtle “off colours” — such as the refined grey-blue-pink suit on display — which spoke to her sophisticated personal taste rather than obvious statements. And we learned of Hartnell’s desire to dress the Queen in black for evening, as a dramatic background to the magnificent Royal jewels. The Queen initially demurred at the connotations, yet the exhibition includes the striking black velvet evening gown by Hartnell which she wore when meeting Marilyn Monroe in 1956 — a bold and memorable choice that will for ever live in the memory.
To stand before the actual garments — the dresses, coats, suits and accessories we remember so vividly from photographs and film — was profoundly moving. Each piece is displayed alongside a photograph or film clip of The Queen wearing it, so that one can instantly connect the garment on view with the moment it was first seen by the world.
All who visit this exhibition will have their own highlights. To come across the beribboned dress and velvet train worn by the young Princess Elizabeth to the Coronation of her father, King George VI, was one such for us. We remember the photograph of the new King, Queen and Princesses on that day — a moment that quietly foreshadowed the course of the family’s life and, in particular, the little Princess’s own extraordinary destiny.
Smaller, more personal details resonated deeply: the lovers’ knot detailed dress which the Queen wore to her sister Margaret’s wedding, worn alongside the bracelet given to her by Prince Philip on their own wedding day. A pair of jewelled sandals preserved with wooden shoehorns is a charmingly intimate touch highlighted by the curator as a favourite piece. The background to the exhibition is itself an enthralling world of discovery and adventure for the curator herself — including tracking down a missing stole worn by The Queen on her visit to Australia, and of course now on show.
What appeared on screen as effortless elegance reveals itself, up close, as something far more deliberate: a blend of strategic brilliance, quiet self-expression and remarkable consistency of character. From state occasions — where a single motif or colour choice could convey meaning before a word was spoken — to her practical off-duty wardrobe, the exhibition charts not merely a collection of clothes, but a life lived with grace under constant scrutiny.
The skill of the British artisans and seamstresses who created these pieces is evident throughout, from exquisite hand-embroidery to impeccable tailoring. Equally impressive is the dedication of the curators and conservators who have maintained and, in many cases, meticulously restored the garments for posterity. One dress shows its age gracefully, serving as a poignant reminder of the passage of time; this only heightens admiration for the many others — glittering gold lamé encrusted with jewels and pearls — that still dazzle as brightly as they did decades ago.
Already recognised as the largest and most comprehensive display of The Queen’s wardrobe ever mounted — featuring more than 300 items, many on public view for the first time — and presented in the centenary year of her birth, this is both a landmark royal exhibition and a significant moment in British fashion history.
For our members, the private view transformed what might have been a beautiful exhibition into something far more intimate and reflective — an opportunity to encounter Her late Majesty anew, still remarkably present rather than consigned to distant heritage.
If you have the opportunity to visit Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style before it closes on 18 October, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Our sincere thanks to Buckingham Palace and to Caroline de Guitaut for her generosity in sharing her knowledge and for bringing this remarkable exhibition so vividly to life.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style: For existing or potential members:
We are delighted that, due to exceptional demand, Buckingham Palace has kindly offered CountryClubuk members a further exclusive Private View of Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style on Monday 12 October 2026. This additional evening event is now open for booking and is expected to fill quickly.
If you are already a CountryClubuk member and would like to join us on 12 October, please reserve your place.
For those who have not yet joined us, this is a wonderful moment to become a member. Our Private Views, curated cultural experiences, and privileged access to events like this are among the many benefits of membership. Joining is straightforward and includes a warm welcome with immediate access to our forthcoming programme.
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