The exhibition will open at the palace on the 13th March.
Kensington Palace will be presenting an exhibition focusing on royal and court fashion treasures, displaying some rarely seen treasures to explore the codes and conventions of royal clothing.
Highlights of the display are set to include pieces worn by a young Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Princess Margaret and Queen Victoria.
Meanwhile, the exhibition will also provide an opportunity for visitors to see up close recognisable and rarely-seen treasures from the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, a collection of 10,000 objects spanning 500 years, cared for by Historic Royal Palaces. Among the objects selected include: n extremely rare Japanese court suit dating from the early 20th century, and a never-before-seen 1920s Reville court dress worn to Buckingham Palace.
In addition, the display will feature 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, a glittering red Bruce Oldfield gown worn by Diana, Princess of Wales for a state visit to Saudi Arabia in 1987 and a never-before-displayed black mourning bodice, a rare survivor from the early years following the death of Prince Albert worn by Queen Victoria.
In a first for Historic Royal Palaces, the charity 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. The partnership demonstrates how the collection is an important source of inspiration, paving the way for a new generation of young people contributing to the arts and fashion industries.
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.”
The exhibition will be on display from the 13th March until the 30th November.