Queen Elizabeth II’s christening gown is among the late monarch’s clothing pieces scheduled for exhibition to mark her 100th birthday.
The exhibition, the first of its kind titled ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style’ has the lace and satin robe worn by royal babies before and after Queen Elizabeth, as one of the 200 items that will be unveiled for the public this spring at the King’s Gallery, adjacent to Buckingham Palace, from April 10 till October 18, 2026.
Made 185 years ago, the gown was first worn by Queen Victoria’s eldest child, Princess Victoria, in 1841. Queen Elizabeth wore it in 1926 during her christening in May 1926. Prince William and Prince Harry, and the royal cousins, including Lady Louise Windsor, the eldest child of Princess Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, also wore the outfit.
However, Prince William and Prince Harry’s children had to settle for a replica of the gown, as it has become too fragile for use.
The gown had undergone 100 hours of painstaking preparation by expert conservators at the Royal Collection.
Curator of the exhibition, Caroline de Guitaut, said, “As the earliest piece of clothing worn by the Queen, and by so many royal babies before and after her, it holds a special place in her wardrobe. We are delighted to be able to share it with as many people as possible in this centenary year.”
The Royal Collection Trust’s textile conservator, Cecilia Oliver, made repairs of intricate holes and what the trust says were “subtle reinforcements to delicate parts of the fabric.” It was washed carefully.
Oliver said, “The robe has been lovingly cared for over the generations – we even found a note on its box instructing that it should be washed in natural spring water after use, which helps explain its remarkable condition despite such frequent use. However, after 185 years and 62 christenings, it needed conservation. It has been an honour and a privilege to work on such a special historic garment.”
Credit: AFP
