One of the largest-ever exhibitions of outfits worn by the Queen went on public display yesterday (21.04.2016) – dating from her childhood to the present day.

Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from the Queen’s wardrobe, the exhibition is the first of three featuring the monarch’s clothing in celebration of her landmark birthday.

The outfits on display chart her life from childhood to the present day and represent family, official and ceremonial occasions.

It opened at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and is the largest display of the monarch’s dress ever shown in Scotland.

Exhibits include pink coats with matching bonnets worn by Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret at the Service of Thanksgiving for the Silver Jubilee of their grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary in 1935.

They also wore them for an official visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse with their parents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937.

Other outfits include those designed by British couturier Norman Hartnell, who was knighted for his services to the Royal Household in 1997.

For a state banquet at the Royal Palace of Bangkok during the Queen’s state visit to Thailand in 1972, he created a silk-cotton evening gown, encrusted with crystals, sequins, beads and diamantes.

Also on display for the first time is the mantle of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle – the highest honour in Scotland.

As Sovereign Head of the Order, the Queen wears the mantle, hat and insignia on ceremonial occasions.

The mantle is a dark-green velvet, lined with white and is emboidered with a represenation of the star of the Order.

The hat is made of black velvet with a plume of white ostrich feathers and an embroidered badge of a thistle.

Another item the public will be able to view is a ruby, gold and diamond brooch which was presented to the Queen by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1966.

The exhibition at Holyroodhouse will be followed by others at the summer opening of the state room at Buckingham Palace from July 23 and at Windsor Castle from September 17.

A total of 150 outfits worn by the Queen will be on view across the three palaces, many chosen due to their association with the location.

ENDS

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