The Queen’s Jubilee Outfits on Display in Edinburgh

The exhibition at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, one of three displays at palaces across the United Kingdom to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, will showcase five ensembles worn by the Queen to celebrate jubilees throughout the course of her 70-year reign. The Royal Collection notes, “Visitors will see a display of outfits worn by Her Majesty on occasions to celebrate the Silver, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees.”

Let’s look at the five ensembles in chronological order, shall we? This ensemble was worn in June 1977 during the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. The Royal Collection notes that the Queen “chose an outfit by Sir Hardy Amies for the Silver Jubilee in 1977, when she wore a striking dress, coat and stole in pink silk-crêpe and chiffon. A matching hat by Frederick Fox featured a cascade of bell-shaped flowers hanging from the back.”

She wore the hat and coat for a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral. “A crowd estimated at one million people watched The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh travel from Buckingham Palace to St Paul’s Cathedral in the Gold State Coach, with a further 500 million watching on television around the world,” the Royal Collection shares.

The Queen accessorized with a pair of diamond and pearl drop earrings, now worn by the Duchess of Cambridge. She also wore a two-stranded pearl necklace—the Hanoverian Pearls, I believe. And she finished off the look with a stunning Cartier jewel: the Williamson Pink Diamond Brooch.

In June 2002, as the nation celebrated the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, the Royal Collection notes that the Queen “wore a blue silk-crêpe coat and dress.” The outfit was also made by “royal couturier, Sir Hardy Amies, who first began designing clothing for The Queen in 1955 and was renowned for his impeccably elegant tailoring. The ensemble was completed by a hat designed by the milliner Frederick Fox.”

The Queen wore the coat and hat for a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Here, she’s pictured with the Duke of Edinburgh at the service.

She wore the same ensemble for a luncheon afterward at the Guildhall. With the coat and hat, she wore diamond and pearl earrings, her three-stranded pearl necklace, and the City of London Lily Brooch.

For the first time, the ensemble worn by the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee service of thanksgiving in June 2012 will go on display as part of the exhibition. The Royal Collection notes, “The ensemble was designed by Angela Kelly and consists of a pale turquoise dress and coat embroidered with scattered silver flowers, with a coordinating hat embellished with chiffon and diamanté.”

Here’s a look at the Queen wearing the outfit as she arrived at St. Paul’s Cathedral for the service of thanksgiving.

With the outfit, she wore diamond and pearl earrings, her three-stranded pearl necklace, and the incredible Cullinan III & IV Brooch.

The Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilee ensemble displays were announced several weeks ago. Now, we’ve learned that two more outfits will join the exhibition. Both were recently worn by the Queen during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The first of the two Platinum Jubilee outfits was worn for Trooping the Colour on June 2. “For the occasion, Her Majesty wore a pale blue dress with a matching coat and hat, both featuring a delicate beaded and diamanté trim. The ensemble was designed by Angela Kelly, Personal Adviser to The Queen (Wardrobe), and was also worn by Her Majesty for the official Platinum Jubilee photograph, taken by Ranald Mackechnie the previous week. The official portrait, which shows The Queen at Windsor Castle, will be displayed as part of the exhibition,” the Royal Collection explains.

Here’s a look at the Queen wearing the outfit on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour.

She also wore diamond and pearl earrings, her three-stranded pearl necklace, and the Guards Brooch for the occasion.

And finally, we’ll see the green outfit she wore on the balcony on June 5 as well. The Royal Collection notes, “Her Majesty’s second Platinum Jubilee ensemble consisted of a vivid green wool-crêpe dress and coat designed by Stewart Parvin, with a coordinating wool-crêpe hat by milliner Rachel Trevor-Morgan.”

Here, the Queen wears the coat and hat on the palace balcony at the conclusion of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London on June 5. She was joined by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

For the appearance, she accessorized with her diamond and pearl earrings, her three-stranded pearl necklace, and one of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bow Brooches.

The exhibition at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh opens today (Sunday, July 3) and runs until Sunday, September 25. The display is included with a visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. You can learn more about visitor information and tickets at the Royal Collection website.