George Boyle
Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress is set to go on display at the King's Gallery in Buckingham Palace in 2026, as part of an exhibition in honour of what would have been her 100th birthday. The dress, which was designed by Norman Hartnell, was purchased using wartime ration cards and featured 10,000 tiny pearls. It was previously exhibited at St James's Palace and in major cities and towns across the UK.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Norman Hartnell |
| Fabric | Ivory silk |
| Embellishments | 10,000 seed pearls, crystals, diamanté, and embroidery |
| Floral motifs | Jasmine, smilax, lilac, and white rose-like blossoms |
| Neckline | Heart-shaped or sweetheart |
| Sleeves | Long and tight |
| Train | 15 feet long |
| Display | St. James's Palace, London Museum, Buckingham Palace |
| Date of display | Spring 2026 |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress was made from ivory silk
Queen Elizabeth II's wedding dress was made from ivory silk satin and decorated with 10,000 seed pearls. The dress was designed by Norman Hartnell, who had been the Court Designer since 1938. The silk was sourced from China, rather than Japan or Italy, as they had been enemies of the UK during the war. The Queen's mother chose the fabric, which was made at Lullingstone Castle. The dress was designed to symbolise "'rebirth and growth' in Britain following World War II. It featured a high neckline, long sleeves, a tailored bodice, and a full skirt that led to a dramatic 13-foot train. The gown took 350 women seven weeks to make.
The design of the dress was inspired by Botticelli's c. 1482 painting, Primavera, particularly the elaborate embroidery motifs of scattered flowers on the rich satin dress and the tulle veil worn by the figure in the painting. Hartnell wanted it to be "the most beautiful dress I had so far made", and it certainly made an impression. Lady Pamela Hicks, one of Queen Elizabeth's bridesmaids, recalled: "With her bridal dress and tiara on her wedding day, she was a knockout, and, of course, Philip was every girl's dream Viking prince."
After the wedding, the dress was exhibited at St James' Palace and then toured across the UK. It was displayed again at Buckingham Palace in 2007, where one of the women who worked on the dress, Betty Foster, remarked: "I had forgotten how beautiful it was, with that exquisite train—and how small the Princess was."
The dress featured in the first episode of the Netflix series The Crown, where it was replicated for actress Claire Foy, who played Princess Elizabeth. The gown created for the show was an exact replica, featuring a foundation of ivory silk satin and 10,000 seed pearls, embroidered with star lilies and orange blossoms.
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The dress was decorated with 10,000 seed pearls
Princess Elizabeth's wedding dress was crafted from ivory silk and decorated with 10,000 seed pearls. The silk was sourced from Nationalist China, and the seed pearls were imported from the United States. The dress was designed by Norman Hartnell, who submitted 12 potential designs to the royal family before one was approved. The final design was kept secret, and the dress was brought to the palace in a 4-foot box just a day before the wedding. The dress featured a heart-shaped neckline, long tight sleeves, and a 13-foot train made of silk tulle. The silk tulle veil was held in place by a crown, which unfortunately broke as the princess was getting ready for the ceremony. A royal jeweller was brought in to make the necessary repairs.
The dress was adorned with flower designs of jasmine, smilax, lilac, and white rose-like blossoms, as well as symbols such as roses, jasmine blossoms, and ears of wheat, all embroidered in silver and gold thread. These motifs symbolised post-war rebirth. The hem of the dress featured a border of orange blossom appliquéd with transparent tulle outlined in seed pearls and crystals. The dress took 350 women seven weeks to make.
The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip took place at Westminster Abbey in November 1947, just two years after the end of World War II. The wedding was a significant event for the nation, bringing a sense of hope and renewal. Due to wartime rationing, Princess Elizabeth had to save up clothing coupons to purchase her wedding dress. She was granted 200 extra coupons, and many admirers sent her their coupons as well, although she had to return them with a note as it was illegal to transfer them. The total cost of the dress was $42,000, equivalent to approximately $1.6 million today.
After the wedding, the dress was put on display at St James's Palace and then exhibited in major cities and towns across the UK. It was later displayed at the London Museum, where the curator observed that the choice of silk had not been a good one as the fabric had deteriorated due to the weight of the embroidery. Despite this, the dress remains a stunning and iconic piece of history.
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The dress was purchased using wartime ration cards
The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in November 1947 was a welcome escape from the post-WWII austerity in the UK. Two years after the war, the British government was still recovering from the Blitz and rationing was in effect for everyone, including the royal family. The future Queen purchased her wedding dress using wartime ration cards and clothing coupons. She saved up her coupons and was granted 200 extra coupons for the wedding celebration. However, she returned the extra coupons sent to her by admirers through the mail, as transferring them was illegal.
The dress was designed by Norman Hartnell, who submitted 12 different gown designs for the Princess to consider. The final design was approved only three months before the wedding. The dress was made from ivory silk and decorated with 10,000 seed pearls, imported from the United States. The silk was chosen at the directive of the Queen Mother, who desired a "rich, lustrous stiff satin". The silk worms were sourced from Nationalist China, not from Japan or Italy, the UK's enemies during the war. The dress featured a heart-shaped neckline, long tight sleeves, and a 15-foot train. The embroidery included motifs of jasmine, smilax, lilac, and white rose-like blossoms, as well as pearl and diamante-encrusted star flowers, roses, jasmine blossoms, and ears of wheat.
The dress has been displayed at various locations, including St James's Palace, the London Museum, and Buckingham Palace. It will be exhibited again at Buckingham Palace in 2026 as part of a fashion exhibit honouring what would have been Queen Elizabeth's 100th birthday. The exhibition will showcase 200 of the late monarch's outfits, nearly half of which have never been displayed before.
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The dress was designed by Norman Hartnell
Princess Elizabeth's wedding dress was designed by Norman Hartnell, a British designer. Hartnell submitted 12 potential designs to the royal family, and the final design was kept secret until the wedding day. The dress was made from ivory silk and decorated with 10,000 pearls imported from the United States, as well as crystals and seed pearls. The silk for the dress was chosen by Elizabeth's mother, the Queen, who desired a "rich, lustrous stiff satin." The dress featured a heart-shaped neckline and long tight sleeves, and the final cost of the gown was $42,000, equivalent to approximately $1.6 million today.
Hartnell's search for suitable designs in London art galleries led him to the Botticelli figure as his inspiration for the use of ivory silk with floral designs. The flowers included jasmine, smilax, lilac, and white rose-like blossoms added to the train, embellished by crystals and pearls. The dress also featured a border of orange blossom appliquéd with transparent tulle outlined in seed pearls and crystals. The motifs were transferred to drawings to enable embroidery experts to work on them.
The construction of the dress was a complex process that required the expertise of embroidery experts and the importation of gemstones from overseas. The dress was created by a team of 350 women who worked for seven weeks to complete it. The final result was a stunning gown that glittered and bejewelled with pearls, skillfully combined with flowing lines of wheat ears, the symbol of fertility, and worked in pearl and diamante. The dress has drawn parallels with the similarly designed dress worn by Grace Kelly in 1956 and the "Westminster décor" wedding dress that Sarah Burton designed for Catherine Middleton.
The wedding dress of Princess Elizabeth has been exhibited in various locations, including St James's Palace, Buckingham Palace, and major cities and towns across the UK. The dress will be on display again at Buckingham Palace in the spring of 2026 to honour what would have been Queen Elizabeth's 100th birthday. The exhibit will be held at the King's Gallery and hosted by the Royal Collection Trust. In addition to the wedding dress, the exhibit will feature Queen Elizabeth's coronation gown, evening gowns, skirts, accessories, sketches, and fabric swatches.
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$27.99 $42.99
The dress was displayed at St James's Palace and Buckingham Palace
Princess Elizabeth's wedding dress was first put on display at St James's Palace and was then exhibited in the major cities and towns of the UK. The dress was later displayed at Buckingham Palace in 2007. The dress will also be exhibited at the King's Gallery in Buckingham Palace in 2026 as part of a fashion exhibit in honour of what would have been the late monarch's 100th birthday. The exhibition will include 200 of Queen Elizabeth's outfits and accessories, including her coronation gown and headscarves.
The wedding dress was designed by Norman Hartnell and featured a heart-shaped neckline and a full skirt. It was made from ivory silk and decorated with 10,000 seed pearls. The dress took 350 women seven weeks to make. The silk was chosen at the directive of the Queen Mother, who desired a "rich, lustrous stiff satin". The silk was made at Lullingstone Castle and the silkworms were bought from Nationalist China, rather than the UK's enemies during the war: Japan and Italy.
The dress cost $42,000 at the time, which is equivalent to $1.6 million today, making it the most expensive bridal gown ever worn by a royal bride. The pearls that adorned the dress were imported from the United States. Princess Elizabeth paid for the dress using wartime ration coupons, and some British families even sent their own coupons to help cover the costs.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress is on display at Buckingham Palace as part of an exhibition in honour of what would have been her 100th birthday.
The wedding dress was previously displayed at St James's Palace and the London Museum.
Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress was made of ivory silk and decorated with 10,000 seed pearls. The silk was sourced from Nationalist China, and not from the UK's enemies during the war, Japan and Italy.
The designer of Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress was Norman Hartnell, who was announced as the designer three months before the wedding.
Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress cost $42,000 at the time, which is equivalent to $1.6 million today.
