Queen Elizabeth's Trick to Standing Out When She Was the 'Only Woman in the Room'
Queen Elizabeth's Trick to Standing Out When She Was the 'Only Woman in the Room'
Janine Henni, Simon PerryThu, April 9, 2026 at 4:48 PM UTC
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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during "The Patron's Lunch" on June 12, 2016 in London, England.Credit: Jeff Spicer/Getty -
The largest-ever exhibition of the late Queen Elizabeth's fashion is being displayed at Buckingham Palace ahead of the 100th anniversary of her birth
Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut explains the Queen's style hacks, including her trick for standing out in a crowd
Queen Elizabeth wasn't afraid to stand out in a crowd.
The largest-ever exhibit of the late Queen’s fashion, called Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, will open at The King's Gallery in Buckingham Palace this week ahead of the 100th anniversary of her birth.
The collection brings together treasures from the Queen's style archive, some never publicly displayed before, including some of the monarch's rainbow style that she was so famous for.
Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut explains why it was "really, really important" for the Queen to sport such bold hues.
"At the beginning of the Queen’s reign, she could often be the only woman in the room, so standing out from darkly tailored suits was important," de Guitaut says of the late sovereign, who acceded to the throne in 1952 when she was 25 years old. "Even if she’s half a mile away, if she’s wearing that red coat, you’re definitely going to see her."
"It’s not the color that pleases you, it's about wearing something that enables people to connect to you as well," she explains.
Queen Elizabeth smiles during a trip to the Forbidden City as part of her Royal Visit, Beijing, China, October 1986.Credit: Forrest Anderson/Getty
Whether to pop in a crowd or send a diplomatic message, Queen Elizabeth dressed in a rainbow of colors during her record reign and memorably said, "I must be seen to be believed."
Blues and yellows were the main colors in her closet, de Guitaut says, closely followed by greens and pinks. She knew what worked for her, according to the curator, but was open to exploring the trends of the times.
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"She had a definite sense of what suited her. The designers would insert the prevailing fashion of the time. Hardy Amies always said we went as high as we dared in the '60s," the curator says, referencing the popular shorter hems for women. "It is down to what enabled her to carry out her duties. That was present, but she made an important contribution to British fashion and interest in fashion."
The exhibit presented by the Royal Collection Trust features items from all 10 decades of the late Queen's life, and de Guitaut says that she hopes it will "highlight the important story of British fashion. There is so much richness here that students can learn."
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The late Queen died at age 96 in September 2022 and would have turned 100 on April 21.
Princess Anne, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and more members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at Trooping the Colour on June 11, 2016.Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
The first two weeks of Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style are already sold out, and attendees will get to see over 300 objects from her personal collection up close.
About half of the looks are on display for the first time, such as her royal christening robe, childhood ballet slippers, silver lame Lanvin bridesmaid dresses, wedding jewelry and an evening gown tailored for her pregnancies with King Charles and Princess Anne.
The King, 77, has not seen the exhibition yet, but he was kept informed as it all came together.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style is open to the public at Buckingham Palace from April 10 to October 18, with tickets on sale through the Royal Collection Trust.
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