Queen Elizabeth II's most iconic outfits ahead of royal exhibit

Five of Queen Elizabeth II's most iconic outfits - from new royal exhibit She was arguably the most famous woman of her time, and Queen Elizabeth II's style - though restrained and often conservative - was instantly recognisable. Just as she remained a constant presence during her 70 years on the throne, so did the show-stopping hats and bright coats of her public appearances, and the tweeds, tartans and headscarves of her off-duty look. Her outfits were meticulously designed - both with practicality in mind, and often with subliminal messages of soft power, diplomacy and stability. A new exhibition at The King's Gallery in Buckingham Palace - showcasing items from the 10 decades of Queen Elizabeth's life and marking the centenary of her birth - throws light on how Britain changed during her reign. Of the 200 pieces set to be featured - including clothing, jewellery, hats, shoes and accessories - we have selected five of the most iconic outfits. The tweed and tartan skirt Designed by her dressmaker Norman Hartnell, the Queen first wore her Harris tweed jacket and Balmoral Tartan skirt in the 1950s. The ensemble - which became a staple of the Queen's off-duty look through the decades - was practical for her love of the outdoors, and modest in appearance. But royal fashion commentator and Vogue contributor Marian Kwei, says the statement it made was anything but. The fabrics used were intended to "promote British fashion, excellence and production", says Kwei. And weaved into the outfit's feminine cut and low-key tones are connotations of "stability, dependence, soft power", she says. "It's 'I'm in charge', without being too loud about it." It is not obviously trendsetting, says Kwei. "If she was chasing fashion trends, we would think she was blown away by every wind," she adds, suggesting its traditional look helps to convey the sense of stability. But the look came to be understood as quintessentially British style. Its influence on contemporary designers is huge, says exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut, noting luxury Italian brand Miu Miu's 2024 Balmoral collection, which reimagined the Queen's tartan kilts. The Coronation dress Also designed by Hartnell, the Queen's 1953 Coronation dress was made from silk produced in Kent and features gold bugle beads, diamantés and pearls in exquisitely designed embroideries. But while it has all the hallmarks of the great British craftsmanship that was championed by Elizabeth II, it is the symbolism - for which her style came to be known - that makes the dress a particular standout. It features the floral emblems of the four nations of the UK, and after accepting Hartnell's eighth design for the dress, the Queen also requested the emblems of other states within the Commonwealth be included. Among England's Tudor rose, Scotland's thistle, the Welsh leek and the Irish shamrock are the Canadian maple leaf and India's lotus flower. "The gown was pretty much a nod to Britain and the Commonwealth," says Kwei. Her sartorial choice, she adds, was "really an indication of...

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