Take a look back at the Queen's most memorable fashion moments, as we celebrate a true royal style icon
Buckingham Palace announced the tragic passing of Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September, making a terribly sad moment in history.
The first monarch to have achieved 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth's doctors revealed on Thursday morning that there were some ‘health concerns’ which required Her Majesty to “remain under medical supervision”. The mood quickly became deeply sombre as news broke that all four of the Queen's children and both Prince William and Prince Harry were making their way urgently to be by Her Majesty's side at Balmoral.
A pillar of both physical and emotional strength throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth II will forever remain an iconic figure in British history.
Adored by fashion critics worldwide, Her Majesty has essentially been on display almost every day since her coronation in 1952. Whether it was for a Royal wedding or any number of royal visits, her dressers and designers never failed to ensure that she looked just right (while usually allowing for an uplifting splash of colour).
While recent years saw critics acknowledge the Queen's preferred style of head-to-toe colour block paired with her staple accessories (the same Anello & Davide heels she had worn for 50 years – each pair of which was broken in by a member of staff nicknamed Cinders – a classic Launder handbag, and the same nail polish she'd worn for the last thirty years) this was by no means always the case.
From the glitz and glamour of evening events in the early years of her reign to the florals she embraced throughout the ‘70s and ’80s, there's no denying that the Queen's style subtly transformed with the times. Nevertheless, she always made sure to separate her wardrobe from traditional, fleeting ‘trends’, and ensured every look incorporated her own timeless stamp.
If you thought the Duchess of Cambridge was the style icon of the Royal Family, think again.
Take a look back as we take a sartorial trip down memory lane with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II…
Getty Images1928
You'd be forgiven for forgetting, given that she's been an adult for all our lives and those of our parents, that the Queen was once a little girl who giggled like Shirley Temple in a joyous party dress.
Getty Images1937
Demure as you like in this gorgeous lily white dress – the original black and white picture has been colourised, but keep an eye on that beautiful blue. Variations of the same are going to crop up a lot in this gallery.
Getty Images1947
The then-Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten on their wedding day. Designed by the official Court Designer, Norman Hartnell, the dress had a fit and flare silhouette with a vast, fabulous lace train. Due to ongoing rationing, the Queen had to purchase the material using coupons – the government gave her 200 extra. It was still significantly fancier than most other dresses of the time: the veil was inspired by a Botticelli painting, and the dress featured 10,000 seed pearls and crystals from America.
Getty Images1951
That sweetheart neckline though... swoon. The Queen wore this glamorous purple-pink gown while visiting Malta with Prince Philip. Keep an eye on the accessories because they're coming up again in 1960.
Getty Images1960
This is a proper Singin' in the Rain flashback – the Queen wore this stunning beaded gown, designed by Norman Hartnell, to attend a film premiere. If only people still rocked the tiara, gloves and gown look today (diamonds only after 6 pm, naturally).
Getty Images1977
Q) What do you get the woman who has everything for her Silver Jubilee? A) A traditional Maori feather cloak, it seems.
Getty Images1979
The Queen goes side-saddle to ride in the Trooping the Colour – she rode in the parade every year until she adopted a carriage in 1987.
Getty Images1979
A fuchsia coat dress for a wedding – if there's ever a look to lift from the '70s, it's this one.
Getty Images1979
Clean, crisp, classic – only the Queen could make a yellow this strong look so well-behaved. She's seen here with President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia as they arrive at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
Getty Images1979
Watching the horse-racing with the Emir of Bahrain.
Getty Images1980
It is always a joy looking back at pictures where the Queen got to fully embrace her inner Dynasty. The coral. The gloves. The diamonds. THE SLEEVES! This is everything.
Getty Images1980
The Queen, her mother, and Princess Margaret, rocked Hardy Amies blue satin jackets for this official portrait by Norman Parkinson.
Getty Images1981
We're moving into icy blue now, which is a royal favourite. Here, obviously, worn for the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.
Getty Images1983
Ronald Reagan might be laughing, but we need to take a moment to pay a very serious tribute to the Anne of Green Gables gorgeousness of these puffed sleeves.
Getty Images1990
Powerful florals from the Queen, Princess Diana, and Princess Margaret to celebrate the Queen Mother's 90th birthday.
Getty Images1997
Anyone who was around in the late '90s will remember where they were when they heard that Princess Diana had died. Here, the Queen and Prince Philip visit St James's Palace to pay tribute to her in the Chapel Royal on the eve of her funeral.
Getty Images2011
How has it been THAT long since the royal wedding? We loved the Queen's yellow outfit for William and Kate's wedding, especially how it contrasted tonally with the Archbishop of Canterbury's robes.
Getty Images2012
Ice blue for a Diamond Jubilee visit to Nottingham with the Duchess of Cambridge.
Getty Images2012
The Queen continued her trip through the colour spectrum with magenta for a Sunday service at Sandringham.
Getty Images2012
This colour took three members of the GLAMOUR team to name. It's CYAN. A lovely cyan blue, and this graced the Queen's Christmas visit to Sandringham for church.
Getty Images2015
Mary McCartney shot this picture of the Queen with one of her daily red box dispatches to mark the moment she became the UK's longest-serving monarch. A strong pink/red clash there.
Getty Images2015
We loved the head-to-toe dedication to a black and pillar-box red colour palette here.
Getty Images2017
This is such an outrageous green. Completely OTT and utterly glorious for Trooping the Colour.
2018
Wearing another zesty green number for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
WPA Pool2019
Pretty in pink to meet guests as she attended the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
Mark Cuthbert2019
Wearing a dress with pink piping to a service marking the 750th anniversary of Westminster Abbey.
WPA Pool2020
Giving thanks to local volunteers and key workers for their work in helping others during the coronavirus pandemic and over Christmas at Windsor Castle.
Pool/Samir Hussein2021
Wearing florals to host US President, Joe Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden at Windsor Castle.
Max Mumby/Indigo2021
Wearing bold cobalt blue for QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse.
Chris Jackson2021
Wearing a refreshing orange hue for the launch of The Queen's Baton Relay for Birmingham 2022, the XXII Commonwealth Games at Buckingham Palace.
Chris Jackson2021
The Queen wore a pastel pink coat dress by Stewart Parvin (accessorised with a matching Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat) to the opening ceremony of the Senedd in Cardiff, wearing a diamond brooch featuring daffodils – the national emblem for Wales.
WPA Pool/Getty Images2022
The Queen opted for a sunshine yellow coat dress as she cheerily attended the Elizabeth line's official opening at Paddington Station in May.
WPA Pool/Getty Images2022
Her Majesty wore a soft pastel sky blue as she attended the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland Reddendo Parade in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, in late June.
