The outfit worn by Queen Elizabeth II’s stunt double during the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony has been placed on display for the first time.The iconic sketch, which saw James Bond actor Daniel Craig meet the late Queen in Buckingham Palace, later featured a stunt double jumping from a helicopter into the Olympic Stadium.Now, the Angela Kelly-designed outfit worn by the stunt double, including the Victorian style bloomers, is on display at the King’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace as part of the upcoming exhibition, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style.The exhibition, which shows how Queen Elizabeth lived a life of thoughtful style choices, is running from Friday, April 10 to Sunday, October 18.Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut, who is also the Surveyor of the King’s Works of Art, said: “I think she had a definite sense of what suited her. “She absolutely knew how she wanted to appear.”The exhibition takes royal fans through 96 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion choices, from a young princess to ultimately becoming the longest-serving British monarch, with style being one of her most powerful tools of communication.Her Late Majesty would have celebrated her 100th birthday on April 21, 2026.Iconic dress from Queen Elizabeth II’s James Bond stunt double unveiled to the public | YOUTUBE / ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST / GETTYThe exhibition features around 200 items, half of which have never been on display before.Examples include a bridesmaid dress worn at the Duke of Kent’s wedding in 1934, as well as her ensemble worn at Princess Margaret’s nuptials in 1960.Fashion fans will gain unprecedented insight into the late Queen’s decision-making when it came to her style, having the chance to read correspondence and view rarely-seen sketches and fabric samples.Queen Elizabeth II famously championed British designers, with Norman Hartnell chosen to create her 1947 wedding dress and her 1953 Coronation gown.
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Queen Elizabeth II wearing a dress designed by Norman Hartnell | CECIL BEATON / VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDONThe exhibition explains how the late Queen lived through the demise of the court dressmaker in the early 20th century, the rise of British couture in the 1930s, and the debut of the British Fashion Houses in the 1970s.This legacy has carried through to the 21st century generation of royals, with the Princess of Wales choosing an Alexander McQueen design to wear when marrying Prince William in 2011.Some fans will be surprised to learn just how involved Queen Elizabeth became with her couturiers and suppliers, opting for bright colours so she could be seen and hats that would never obscure her face.She even opted to have pearls embroidered throughout her wedding gown to illustrate a sense of rebirth after World War Two.During royal tours abroad, Her Late Majesty would frequently choose colours or national emblems to send a message to the country she was visiting.For example, during a 1961 trip to Pakistan, Mr Hartnell designed a white gown that featured green pleats cascading down the back – a direct nod to the country’s flag.Six years later, during a visit to Canada, the late Queen wore a gown embroidered with maple leaves to honour the Commonwealth nation.Both Catherine and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex are known to carry on this fad, but it was Queen Elizabeth II who started the trend.A green and white dress worn by Queen Elizabeth II in Pakistan in 1961, designed by Norman Hartnell | ROYAL COLLECTION ENTERPRISES LIMITED 2025 | ROYAL COLLECTION TRUSTThe exhibition also explores how designs evolved during the late Queen’s lifetime, from crinoline gowns in the 1950s to the softer silhouettes of the 1970s.Ms Guitaut said: “Of course, they would insert whatever the contemporary prevailing fashion of the time. The hemline – Hardy Amies said ‘we went as high as we dared’ in the 60s’.”Her Late Majesty’s commitment to the fashion industry was subsequently honoured in 2018 with the launch of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.The exhibition has sold out for its first few weeks, illustrating the enduring fascination with the late Queen and, by extension, the monarchy itself.