She was never chasing trends. Yet for seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II dressed in a way that was instantly, unmistakably her own. Bright coats, show-stopping hats, sensible tweeds and a rotating cast of Commonwealth-nodding emblems on silk, the Queen's wardrobe was a carefully managed piece of soft power.
A new exhibition at the King's Gallery in Buckingham Palace, marking the centenary of her birth on 10 April, puts that wardrobe under the spotlight. Of the 200 pieces on display, including clothing, jewellery, hats and shoes, five stand out for what they say about both the woman and her era.
