Kensington Palace visitors will be able to visit the Dress Codes exhibition, which will feature items of clothing worn by members of the royal family, from March 2025.
Groups will be able to see both instantly recognisable and rarely seen highlights from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.
Highlights of the Dress Codes includes two matching Liberty print floral cotton dresses, worn in 1936 by Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) and her younger sister Princess Margaret when they were children growing up in London, on display at Kensington Palace for the first time.
The exhibition will also feature items worn by Queen Victoria, including a never-before-displayed black mourning bodice, a rare survivor from the early years following the death of Prince Albert.
Clothing worn by former royal residents of Kensington Palace will go on display, including a glittering red Bruce Oldfield gown worn by Diana, Princess of Wales for a state visit to Saudi Arabia in 1987. Alongside this will be a Catherine Walker green silk velvet tuxedo-style dress, one of 79 dresses famously auctioned to raise money for HIV/AIDS and cancer charities in 1997.
Historic Royal Palaces has partnered with three local youth groups, with a number of participants aged 14-17 acting as young producers on the exhibition. The final room will showcase clothing designed by the Young Producers, inspired by items from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection and showing how dress codes can be reset and re-made for today.
Matthew Storey, curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said: “It has been a pleasure to delve deep into the stores of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, to share hidden treasures alongside iconic outfits. Working with the young producers has shown how fascinating the histories of these garments are, from the personal to the political, and how their design can inspire creativity today.
“Kensington Palace has always been the home of royal fashion, from court occasions in the Georgian period, to its stylish former residents, to our exhibitions today. I’m looking forward to sharing an incredible range of stunning items with our visitors, including many that have never been seen before, and celebrating the creativity of our remarkable young producers.”
Dress Codes opens to the public on 13th March 2025 and will run until 30th November. Access will be included in palace admission.
Groups can also enjoy an afternoon tea or elegant lunch in the newly-restored Orangery restaurant and benefit from bulk discounts on guide books and souvenirs during a visit to Kensington Palace.
Groups of 15 or more can buy tickets for Kensington Palace at a discounted rate.
For more information about group bookings visit hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/visit/group-visits.
For more information about the Dress Code exhibition visit hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace/whats-on/dress-codes.
