The late Queen Elizabeth II’s christening robe, making her one of 62 royal babies to wear the gown, is to go on display for the first time.
Made 185 years ago, the item of dress was first worn by Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Princess Victoria, for her Christening in 1841.
Since then, it has been carefully passed down and worn by consecutive generations of royal babies, including Queen Elizabeth when she was christened in May 1926 aged just one month.
And now, the robe will be available for the public to see for the first time as part of Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, an exhibition by the Royal Collection Trust running at the The King’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace from 10 April.
The exhibition marks what would have been the monarch’s 100th birthday, three and a half years after her death. In a particularly poignant piece of programming, the gallery itself stands on the site of the former private chapel at Buckingham Palace, where Elizabeth was christened before it was destroyed in the Blitz.
Created by Janet Sutherland, the robe is a reflection of British clothing manufacturing, made of silk from East London and fine lace made in Devon. It will be displayed by a handwritten note from the Queen herself, listing some of the young royals to have worn the gown.
Due to the natural degradation of the natural fibre of the robe, it was repaired in the 1960s, and recently underwent 100 hours of treatment by the Royal Collection Trust’s textile conservator Cecilia Oliver before going on display. A replica, commissioned by the late monarch in 2004, is now worn by royal babies at their christenings.
Oliver said: “The robe has been lovingly cared for over the generations – we even found a note on its box instructing that it be washed in natural spring water after use, which helps explain its remarkable condition despite such frequent use.
“However, after 185 years and 62 christenings, it was in need of conservation. It has been an honour and a privilege to work on such a special historic garment.”
Around 200 items from Queen Elizabeth’s fashion archive will go on display as part of the Royal Collection Trust’s exhibition, with the robe accompanied by the bonnet, silk satin shawl, sash, bows and ribbons embroidered with national emblems that were also traditionally worn for christenings. The exhibition will run until 18 October 2026.
