Queen Elizabeth II’s most memorable fashion moments revealed

Queen Elizabeth II's most memorable fashion moments

“I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am.” According to Queen Elizabeth II’s biographer, Robert Hardman, this was the monarch’s reasoning for her famously-vivid wardrobe.

From the neon green worn to celebrate her 90th birthday to yellow for the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton, The Queen made rainbow ensembles one of her sartorial signatures.

The importance of fashion throughout her life mustn’t be underestimated. She used its soft-touch diplomacy to offer messages of goodwill, regal dignity, hope and even joy.

Queen Elizabeth also had to adhere to the many rules around royal dressing – hemlines of a certain awkward situation diffusing length, regulation nude tights and a ban on “vulgar” colourful nail polish.

The clothes she wore when visiting her Scottish residence, Balmoral particularly emphasised this aesthetic – tartan skirts, waxed Barbour jackets, and a silk scarf (often from Hermes).

But this sensible approach was also evident in her majesty’s loyalty to certain brands and people, including Angela Kelly and the dressmaker Stewart Parvin.

As she grew more confident in her role, The Queen left behind the sweet peter pan collars and pastels she wore as a young princess and increasingly embraced the bold and the bombastic.

She was almost always wearing gloves, a useful choice for someone who, at least pre-pandemic, spent an awful lot of time shaking people’s hands.

The Queen was rarely without her trademark British heritage brand Launer handbags (she was said to own more than 200 of them) and her practical, patent leather, block heeled Anello & Davide loafers.

In 2018, the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design was established, recognising the work of young British designers who made an impact in their communities.

Indeed in her life of service The Queen always used fashion to make sure every moment counted.

And contrary to her protestations, it would have been truly impossible to miss her for she was always, always dressed for the occasion.