Senior Curator of Decorative Arts, Caroline de Guitaut

Fashioning A Reign: 90 Year’s of Style from The Queen’s Wardrobe is an eye-opening exhibition. There’s plenty of glamour and sparkle, of course, alongside formal attire and ceremonial garments too. And it’s not just fashion either, there’s a rotary dial telephone that the Queen used to make the first trunk call, and a commemorative jewelencrusted mini radar dish on display. A display of moving images act as a backdrop to the first section where you can marvel at the lace in the christening gown worn by the month-old Princess Elizabeth. It was originally commissioned by Queen Victoria for her first child in 1841 with the design based on the great Queen’s own wedding dress. The robe was subsequently worn by over 60 royal babies until, in 2004, designer Angela Kelly created a replica robe made from lace and silk satin.

Outfit and hat designed by Angela Kelly worn by The Queen to the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton

BRITISH DESIGNERS Throughout her reign, the Queen has exclusively patronised British designers, including Sir Norman Hartnell who was responsible for many of the outfits worn by Her Majesty at State events, on tours and at family occasions. His exquisite drawings of his designs can also be seen in the exhibition. Designers are invited to submit outfit designs for upcoming special occasions and world tours for the Queen to make her choice. It’s important that she stands out from the crowd wherever she goes, but also that she is dressed appropriately for the climate, and of course the company she will keep. For example, on display are an outfits, worn for a visit to the Middle East where women must be covered up when outdoors, and another for a visit to The Vatican to meet the Pope. For some outfits fabric colours and embroidery were chosen to relate to a country’s national emblem. A mimosayellow silk chiffon dress designed by Ian Thomas for The Queen’s 1974 visit to Australia is embellished with sprigs of wattle, Australia’s national floral emblem. A total of around 150 outfits will be shown across three royal palaces, the content of each has been selected to have particular association with the location. At the Palace of Holyrood for example the use of tartan in royal dress is explored, while at Windsor Castle magnificent evening gowns worn on official occasions will be contrasted with Princess Elizabeth’s fancy-dress costumes from wartime family pantomines.

■ Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from the Queen’s Wardrobe runs until October 2, 2016 at Buckingham Palace.
Caroline

A Sketch of the Coronation dress, 1953, Norman Hartnell

Group rates to visit Fashioning a Reign and the State Rooms (including a multimedia tour) are: adults £19.40; students and over 60s £17.70; under 17 and disabled £11.10. General group bookings: Tel. 030 3123 7321 Online: www. royalcollection.org.uk/tickets Bookings for visitors with disabilities: Tel. 030 3123 7324 Email: specialistsales@royalcollection.org.uk Group bookings for special and private visits (The State Rooms and Garden Highlights Tour and Exclusive Evening Tour call 030 3123 7322 Email: specialistsales@royalcollection.org.uk

Every summer, when the palace is not being used in its offi cial capacity, visitors can enjoy the magnifi cent State Rooms, which are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection. There are portraits of Royal ancestors and great masterpieces on the walls,
sculptures, beautiful furniture, history and grandeur to take in. And don’t forget to ask about the Queen’s secret door hidden away in a corner in a false wall! Buckingham Palace summer opening until October 2, 1016. Tel. 030 3123 7300 www.royalcollection.org.uk
A similar exhibition is running at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh until October 16, 2016 (www.royalcollection.org.uk/holyroodhouse) and another opens at Windsor Castle on September 17, 2016 and runs to January 8, 2017 (www.royalcollection.org. uk/holyroodhouse