As she turns 96, we celebrate the Queen’s best outfits. (Getty Images)
Having been in the spotlight since birth, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II certainly knows a thing or two about dressing for the public eye.
As a young princess, Elizabeth took to wearing the era-defining A-line-style floral tea dresses and pleated dresses, opting for practical tweed and skirt suiting for horse riding and other outdoor affairs.
In her late teens, she graduated to fitted dresses and skirt suits as she took on her duties as a senior royal.
In 1947, she married Prince Philip in a dress that was certainly fit for a future queen. Designed by her go-to couturier Sir Norman Hartnell, it featured a dramatic 13ft train and intricate embroidery representing the flora of the UK and Commonwealth countries.
When she succeeded her father to the throne in 1952, the Queen embraced elegant tulle and embroidered gowns for state banquets and receptions, whilst honing her day-to-day style by enlisting designer Hardy Amies (until 1990).
Today, Her Majesty turns to dressmakers Stewart Parvin and Angela Kelly for her instantly recognisable colourful skirt suits, which, according to daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex, she wears to ensure she can be seen in large crowds.
As the Queen celebrates her 96th birthday, we take a look back at the royal style icon’s most memorable looks.
The Queen’s standout fashion moments
Florals for spring
The Queen opted for a spring palette with her floral dress, worn for her first official engagement of 2022, as she viewed a display of artefacts from British craftwork company, Halcyon Days, at Windsor Castle. (Getty Images)
Pretty in pink
The Queen was dressed for summer during an inspection of the Balaklava Company in August 2021 as she took up her summer residence in Balmoral, Scotland. (Getty Images)
Signature look
A perfect example of Her Majesty’s signature look. The Queen dressed in a vibrant deep orange at the launch of the 2022 Commonwealth Games Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace in October last year. (Getty)
Countryside chic
Her Majesty tends to put practicality first when dressing for the outdoors, and is known for her riding boots and waterproof wax jackets. Whatever she wears, she always manages to look chic, as seen here in a green woollen caped coat with Prince Charles as he planted the first Jubilee tree in the grounds of Windsor Castle. (Getty Images)
Summer shades
A little rain doesn’t stop the Queen from embracing the summer in a pale pink dress coat as she meets guests as for her Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London in 2018. (Getty Images)
Royal Ascot
The annual horse races at Royal Ascot allow Her Majesty to push the boat out in terms of colour and pattern. (PA)
London Fashion Week
Queen Elizabeth wore a co-ordinating pale blue skirt suit as she sat next to Anna Wintour to view Richard Quinn’s runway show before presenting him with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design at London Fashion Week, 2018. (Getty Images)
Signature pearls
Her Majesty is rarely seen without her three-string pearl necklace and Launer bag. Seen here joined by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex for a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018. (Getty Images)
Silk scarves
Queen Elizabeth is also known for her numerous silk headscarves, seen here as she watched her horse ‘Barber’s Shop’ win at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Home Park in 2017 in Windsor. (Getty Images)
Vibrant hues
The Queen brightens even the rainiest of British days with her vibrant colour choices as she visits the newly redeveloped Birmingham New Street Station in 2015. (Getty Images)
Formalwear finesse
Her Majesty looked every bit as glamorous in her eighties as she did in her twenties at a state dinner for Barack and Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace in 2011. (Getty Images)
Winter whites
Queen Elizabeth II understands the power of a tonal outfit as she attends the morning service on Christmas Day at Sandringham Church, Norfolk, 2010. (Getty Images)
Royal jewellery collection
Even as she entered her eighties, Her Majesty still championed regal style, wearing the Diamond Diadem made by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell as she arrives at the House of Lords for the State Opening of Parliament in 2007. (Getty Images)
Signature accessories
Whilst styles may come and go, Her Majesty’s trusty white block heels and square top-handled bags continue to reign, here watching the ceremonial welcome for President Goncz of Hungary in Windsor, 2005. (Getty Images)
Opera gloves
Her Majesty opted for a light pink gown for a banquet in Hungary, but didn’t go without her signature formal opera gloves and royal jewels for the formal occasion. (Getty Images)
Style of the times
Her Majesty’s vibrant yellow patterned skirt suit was indicative of the 80s decade as visited Berlin in May 1987. (Getty Images)
Practicality is key
The Queen adapted her accessories for each season. Seen here wearing a fur hat during a winter visit to Canada circa 1983. (Getty Images)
Go-to dress shape
Queen Elizabeth took to wearing this recognisable patterned and pleated dress style on her royal tours, seen here with Prince Philip in Kiribati during their tour of the South Pacific, 1982. (Getty Images)
Off-duty style
Her Majesty in comparatively casual wear, wearing a loose shirt and slacks whilst on safari with Prince Philip during their state visit to Zambia, 1979. (Getty Images)
Royal tour wardrobe
Her Majesty embraced green during her royal tour of New Zealand, 1977. (Getty Images)
Matching brooches
The monarch would match her patterned dresses to her brooches and hats whilst on tour, seen here during her visit to New Zealand part of her Silver Jubilee Year Tour in March 1977. (Getty Images)
Penchant for polka-dots
Think the Duchess of Cambridge co-opted the polka-dot trend? Think again. The Queen has been wearing the pattern for decades. Seen here in a yellow button-down dress with a group of local children during her state visit to Mexico, 1975. (Getty Images)
Sunshine hues
Queen Elizabeth opted for sunshine yellow for her and Prince Philip’s Commonwealth tour of New Zealand, 1974. (Getty Images)
Red carpet glam
Queen Elizabeth opted for 70s glamour as she attended the premiere of Murder on the Orient Expressin a silk turquoise dress with embroidered detailing in London, 1974. (Getty Images)
Sleek travel outfits
Queen Elizabeth in a chic and sleek teal skirt suit, with co-ordinating feathered hat in Balmoral, Scotland in 1974. (Getty Images)
Neckerchiefs
Her Majesty likes to match her outfit down to her accessories, including any neckerchiefs. Here with Prince Philip at Balmoral, Scotland, 1972. (Getty Images)
Outdoor chic
Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh are countryside style icons in tweed and gabardine whilst at Balmoral, Scotland, 1972. (Getty Images)
Checks please!
The monarch also experimented with patterns over the years, here one of the rare times Her Majesty was seen in houndstooth check with her daughter, Princess Anne, during a visit to Turkey in October, 1971. (Getty Images)
At the races
Royal tours are where Her Majesty’s style really showed itself, whilst chatting with jockeys Ron Quinton and Hilton Cope during her tour of Australia, April 1970. (Getty Images)
Swinging Sixties
Her Majesty in her go-to style, a sixties pea coat and hat, with her two corgis at the airport during the 1960s. (Getty Images)
Eye-catching colour
Whilst the silhouettes of her coat dresses rarely changed, the Queen would mix it up with vibrant colours, reportedly so she can be seen from the crowd. Seen here with Princess Anne at the wedding of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, 1967. (Getty Images)
Go-to cover up
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Queen Elizabeth truly embraced the A-line pea coat style as her go-to outerwear of the 1960s, seen during a royal visit to the Isle of Wight in 1965.(Getty Images)
World-class millinery
Her Majesty has a penchant for an architectural floral hat, as seen here on a royal tour to Ghana in 1961. (Getty Images)
Stepping into summer
Queen Elizabeth visiting Italy in 1961 wearing a summery checkered dress. (Getty Images)
Festive dressing
Queen Elizabeth embracing the festive season in a shimmering dress for her first Christmas Day television address to the nation in 1957. (Getty Images)
Timeless elegance
Her Majesty’s blazer and floral dress combination seen here at Royal Ascot racecourse in 1955, wouldn’t look out of place in 2022. (Getty Images)
Going with the times
He Majesty embraced the 50s style with aplomb, seen here in a patterned dress in Germany in 1953. (Getty Images)
Portrait perfection
Queen Elizabeth in an official portrait, wearing the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1953. (Getty Images)
Coronation gown grandeur
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth during her coronation in 1953, the first to be televised, wearing a design by Sir Norman Hartnell. It was created in the finest white duchesse satin, richly embroidered with the floral emblems signifying the nations of the UK and the Commonwealth. (Getty Images)
Equestrian excellence
A
n avid horse rider, Queen Elizabeth II never passed up the opportunity to take part in the Trooping of the Colour ceremony, seen here in official uniform in 1952. (Getty Images)
Motherhood
Chic practicality was the theme of Elizabeth’s early royal wardrobe, seen here with a young Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Windsor Castle in 1952. (Getty Images)
Senior royalty
The Queen’s formal wear in the early days featured a similar silhouette: a strapless gown with a cinched waist and full skirt, that allowed her royal jewels and tiaras to sing. With Prince Philip in Malta in 1951.(Getty Images)
Official duties
Whilst her skirt suits remained largely similar, the details changed with the times. Like these large mother-of-pearl buttons worn whilst with Prince Philip in Malta in 1949.(Getty Images)
Beautiful bride
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s wedding day in November 1947. Her Majesty wore a satin gown by Sir Norman Hartnell. (Getty Images)
Engagement portrait
In her official engagement portrait at Buckingham Palace in 1947, Elizabeth is seen wearing a lilac fitted dress with a sophisticated square collar representing her graduation to a more senior role in the royal family. It still featured a bit of fun though, with small bow detailing to the sleeves and neckline. (Getty Images)
The happy couple
Her engagement to then-Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten in 1947 raised the style stakes even further, opting for her now-recognisable coat dresses for her first outing since the young couple’s engagement in 1947. (Getty Images)
Diplomatic dressing
Diplomatic dressing seemed to come easily to Queen Elizabeth from a young age, seen here wearing a floral dress with her sister Margaret in Durban, South Africa during a royal tour in 1947. (Getty Images)
Early style signatures
Her Majesty has accessorised with her famous head scarf since she was a teenager, as seen here with her sister Margaret at Balmoral, Scotland. (Getty Images)
Royal teenager
As she grew older, patterned A-line dresses with a cinched waist were a modest yet chic go-to for Elizabeth, seen here at Windsor Castle in the late 1940s. (Getty Images)
Young royal
Summer dresses were also a mainstay of her royal wardrobe, but frills and bows kept them youthful in her early teens at Sandringham. (Getty Images)
Sister act
Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose were often photographed in similar outfits during their youths, here on the Sandringham Estate in 1942. (Getty Images)
A family affair
Princess Elizabeth with her mother, Queen Elizabeth, and sister, Princess Margaret wearing matching pale pink outfits at Windsor Castle in 1941. (Getty Images)
Active youngsters
Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret with their pet corgis at the Sandringham, Norfolk, c.1940s. Warm woollen clothing and traditional tartan was already a part of Her Majesty’s wardrobe from a young age. (Getty Images)
Like mother, like daughter
The then Royal Princess Elizabeth with her mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, 1940. (Getty Images)
Young royals
Princess Elizabeth with her younger sister Margaret Rose as young children in the 1930s. (Culture Club/Getty Images)
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