Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 on 8 Sept., as announced in a statement released by Buckingham Palace. [1] The long-reigning monarch was placed under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle, and passed away in the presence of her loved ones — including Prince Charles who is now King Charles III.
In 1952, at age 25, she ascended to the throne following the passing of her father, King George VI. During her decades-long reign, she consistently used fashion to express her personality and, to some degree, to reflect the state of the monarchy. The Queen had a penchant for making vibrant, cheerful fashion statements, which she often chose with great intention. Royal biographer Robert Hardman reportedly said: "My favourite remark she ever said was: 'I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am.'"
According to former royal butler, Paul Burrell, the majesty's residence top floor was solely dedicated to storing her clothes. The outfits had to be brought down to her, so she didn't see her wardrobe with the clothes in it. As he told Yahoo's Royal Box, "Her dresser will bring down two outfits in the morning, which are sketched with pieces of material clipped to them so that the Queen can remember whether it's silk or cotton or wool." Once she selected an option, it would be brought downstairs for her, meaning she never actually saw her wardrobe in its entirety. Considering Elizabeth's affinity for brightly coloured outfits [2], it's likely that the wardrobe itself was filled with a rainbow of options. It may have also been full of handbags from one of her go-to designers, Launer [3].
Below, take a walk down the Queen's sartorial memory lane. From a bright blue gown during her meeting with JFK to bright pink on her way to a banquet, celebrate Queen Elizabeth's best fashion moments from over the years.
— Additional reporting by Shelcy Joseph
A Newly Engaged Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten (Later Prince Philip) in 1947
Princess Elizabeth of England and Prince Philip on Their Wedding Day in 1947
Princess Elizabeth of England and Prince Philip in Malta in 1951
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburg Before Her Coronation in 1953
Queen Elizabeth II at the London Palladium Royal Variety Performance in 1952
Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Ascot in 1954
Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Wellington at Wellington Town Hall in 1954
Queen Elizabeth II at a Performance of 'Les Girls' at Leicester Square's Odeon in 1957
Queen Elizabeth II in Ottawa, Canada in 1959
The Late President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy Visited the Queen in 1961
Queen Elizabeth II at the 'Lawrence of Arabia' Premiere in Leicester Square in 1962
Queen Elizabeth II at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1962
Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London in 1964
The Queen During a Visit to Malta in 1967
Queen Elizabeth II Being Shown Around the 'RMS Queen Elizabeth 2' in Southampton in 1969
Queen Elizabeth II and President Richard Nixon at Buckingham Palace in 1969
Queen Elizabeth II Attending a Premiere in The West End in 1973
Queen Elizabeth II at the Windsor Horse Show in 1975
The Queen During a Royal Tour of Japan in 1975
Queen Elizabeth II With a Group of Local Children in Mexico in 1975
Queen Elizabeth at a Formal Event in Canada in 1976
Queen Elizabeth with President Urho Kekkonen in Finland in 1976
Queen Elizabeth II During a State Visit to Bangladesh in 1983
Queen Elizabeth II with George Burns, Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Dionne Warwick in 1983
Queen Elizabeth II at Barbican Hall in 1990
Queen Elizabeth II with George Bush at the White House in 1991
Queen Elizabeth II in Blois, France in 1992
The Queen And Prince Philip at A Banquet During An Official Tour Of Hungary in 1993
Queen Elizabeth in Pakistan in 1997
Queen Elizabeth II at Devon's Royal Marines Commando Training Centre in 1998
The Queen at the Royal Variety Performance in England in 1999
The Queen at the Millennium Bridge in 2000
Queen Elizabeth II at the first of her Annual Garden Parties in 2001
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Royal Variety Performance in Liverpool in 2007
Queen Elizabeth II at the Presidential Palace in Slovakia in 2008
The Queen at the Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Cambridge in Nottingham in 2012
Queen Elizabeth II Leaving the Christmas Day Service at Sandringham Church in 2014
Queen Elizabeth II Watching Her Horse 'Fabricate' at the Royal Ascot in 2018
Queen Elizabeth II Visiting London's Science Museum in 2019
Queen Elizabeth II at The Royal Windsor Cup 2021
Prince Charles and The Queen at Platinum Pageant in 2022
