Queen Elizabeth’s Tiaras, Hats and More Go on Display to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Monarch’s Birth

In the year that marks the centenary of her birth, a much-anticipated style exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the world-famous wardrobe of the late Queen Elizabeth.

From never-seen-before childhood dresses to her wedding necklaces, tiaras and even the dress worn by her stunt double for the London 2012 Olympics ceremony, half of the items are on display for the first time in history.

“With over 300 pieces in the exhibition, it is the most thorough examination of her clothing collection, which I hope will help visitors understand why fashion was so important in the Queen’s role,” Caroline de Guitaut, curator of the exhibition, tells PEOPLE.

Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, which opens at The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace this week, includes treasured items from the royal’s childhood, including some of her very first pieces of couture.

One such item is a silver lame bridesmaid dress, designed by Edward Molyneux, that the princess wore at age 8 to the wedding of her uncle the Duke of Kent to Princess Marina of Greece in 1934. Also on display are a pair of gold lame dresses made by Jeanne Lanvin for herself and her sister, Princess Margaret.

“They were a very exciting discovery,” says de Guitaut, who has worked for the Royal Collection Trust for over three decades and curated many royal clothing exhibitions during her career. “They are fascinating from a fashion history perspective, and they beautifully illustrate that interface between Paris and London at that time.”

The exhibition weaves through the various stages of the Queen’s life, told through the lens of fashion and the trusted relationship she had with the couturiers in her life. “I think people will learn a little bit more about her, and clothing is so intensely personal, it feels like the next best thing to being with that person.”

Known for her use of bold colors (the late Queen once famously said, “I must be seen to be believed”), which she often used for diplomatic purposes on tour, the exhibition is a kaleidoscope of color, particularly in the vibrant display of her famous hats. From turbans and berets to more traditional designs, there are over 50 of her personal hats on display.

“You can see the quirky side of her style in the millinery; some of those styles are very fashion forward,” says the curator who has written the official centenary publication to accompany the exhibition. “There is a fearlessness about her millinery choices which came across palpably to me.”

In addition to archival materials from invoices, fabric samples and design sketches annotated in her own hand, the exhibition also includes her many accessories. From her iconic Launer handbag, Rayne shoes and her much-loved headscarves, the exhibit also includes personal items such as sunglasses, umbrellas, binoculars and monogrammed vanity cases and trunks from the 1940s and 1950s.

With over 4,000 pieces in her personal collection to choose from, the final edit has many eye-catching evening gowns, including the rare surviving dress from her Commonwealth tour in 1953 and the vibrant turquoise silk taffeta and tulle gown by Norman Hartnell that she wore for Princess Margaret’s wedding in 1960.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

However, de Guitaut was keen to include her less glamorous looks too. “The tweed jacket, the tartan skirt and the headscarf – that look has been very influential on contemporary designers, but it was also a style that the Queen completely owned, it was so instantly recognisable as her signature look.”

In line with her impact on modern fashion, the finale of the exhibition is a selection of outfits designed by contemporary British designers, including Erdem, Richard Quinn and Christopher Kane, all of whom were at various points in their careers inspired by the late Queen, who died at Balmoral in 2022.

“I hope that visitors will come away recognising the contribution that she made to the fashion industry over many decades and that there is a great archive here to be used and to be inspired by, for the designers of the future.”