A Look At Queen Elizabeth II’s Iconic Wardrobe Through Photographs

Sep 16, 2022

Queen Elizabeth II was the reigning monarch of England for an incredible 70 years, but sadly her time came to an end when she passed away on Sept. 8, 2022. She passed away while at her home in Balmoral after Buckingham Palace had earlier announced that she was under medical attention. It was a devastating day for the royal family as many members gathered to be by her side in her final moments. 

Despite making it to an incredible 96 years of age, the queen proved there was no slowing her down. 2022 was a big year for her after she celebrated 70 years as Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 Commonwealth realms in February. This was not only a milestone for her but for the entire world, as she was the first British ruling monarch to reach the seven-decade mark. In fact, she made further history when she became the second longest-serving monarch ever. She's only bested by one other ruler, Louis XIV of France. 

And while the queen was adored for her leadership qualities, many people also appreciated her sense of humor and her charming personality. She also strayed from blending in, as her style was always impeccable. While some people may think of Kate Middleton or Princess Diana when they think about fashionable royals, they might be surprised to learn that the queen’s looks were not just appropriate for her historical life but they were also very iconic.

But the queen had always been a style icon. With a legacy of looks through multiple eras, Queen Elizabeth II wore many different styles throughout the years, highlighting some of her most prominent moments.

Young Princess

As a young princess, Elizabeth often wore tea dresses with feminine sleeves. However, this attire was more for her everyday life. When it came time for an important event, the future queen definitely dressed for the occasion.

For instance, when Elizabeth was a bridesmaid at then-Lady May Cambridge’s wedding in 1931, she put on the most elegant dress adorned with a cape and a bouquet of flowers. According to the Guardian, this was the young princess’ first official public appearance.

Elizabeth first stood on a pew speaking with the other young bridesmaids at the back of the church before walking down the aisle alongside her cousin, Lady May Cambridge, now known as Lady May Helen Emma Abel Smith.

Her Coronation

Of course, the young princess grew up to become queen – and an unforgettable one at that. During her coronation in June 1953, Elizabeth went from a young princess to an official queen. She acceded to the throne when she was just 25 years old, remaining in the queen position until her passing on Sept. 8, 2022, at the age of 96. Elizabeth’s style was appropriately more elaborate and elevated in comparison to her delicate dress days as a young lady. 

The United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms celebrated the new queen that day, and at that time, it was the only coronation to have been fully televised.

Prominent Hats On Display

During her life, the queen wore a plethora of hats, both figuratively and literally. She held many tiles and carried out several important engagements as one of the most historical monarchs. Elizabeth also made sure to do everything in style, showing off her iconic hats in the process.

While the queen wore hats on several occasions over the years, one of the last times the public saw her wearing one was at her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. According to CNN, this was one of the queen’s last public appearances. Her bright green hat stood out as the queen stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. According to CNN, the hat also had a black pin attached to it in honor of the late Prince Philip, proving just how poignant and ever-present the queen’s love for her late husband was.

Important Use Of Color

Throughout her reign, Queen Elizabeth II used fashion as a discrete form of communication. As a result, the queen’s impressive wardrobe was composed of various diplomatic colors and styles accompanying selective jewelry pieces complementary to the occasion.

In an interview with Stylist.co.uk, Caroline de Guitaut, senior curator of decorative arts at the Royal Collection Trust, explained the time and effort that went into planning the queen's outfits. She also explained how bold and bright colors were used.

"Color is used as a way of making her visible," Gouitaut shared. "We always see her wearing hats with daytime outfits that enable her to be spotted in a crowd."

And after the queen passed, many places across the world illuminated a bright purple in the fashionable monarch’s honor, according to The Sun.

What do you think about the late queen’s style? What is your favorite look that she wore? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to any royal family fan you know!