A major royal first has just been announced as Buckingham Palace
prepares for a historic moment.
It’s just been confirmed that the
royal christening gown worn by 62 babies, including kings and
queens, is going on show. It’s thought to be the first time this
rare piece of royal history has been part of an exhibition.
The dress, created in 1840 on the orders of Queen Victoria, is
on display as part of a major show marking the centenary of the
birth of Queen Elizabeth II.
The late Queen wore the gown at her christening in 1926 and it
will go on display in a place with a poignant link to Elizabeth II.
The outfit will be part of an exhibition at The King’s Gallery in
London which is on the site of the former chapel at Buckingham
Palace where baby Elizabeth was christened. The chapel was
destroyed during the Blitz.
six monarchs, so far, to have worn the royal christening gown
(Royal Collection Trust)
Also on show will be handwritten notes by Queen Elizabeth II who
meticulously recorded the names of all the royal babies who wore
the outfit. And those pieces of paper bring their own reminders of
royal history. King Charles III wore the outfit with his name
recorded as it was at the time of his baptism in 1948. The King was
actually born as Prince Charles of Edinburgh.
The christening gown was a personal item for the Royal Family
for 185 years. It was commissioned by Queen Victoria for the
christening of her first child, Princess Victoria, who was born in
November 1840 and who was, briefly, heir to the throne until the
arrival of her younger brother, the future King Edward VII, in
1841. It was used by generations until 2004 when Queen Elizabeth II
decided the gown was too fragile for further wears. The last royal
baby to be christened in it was Lady Louise
Mountbatten-Windsor.
Queen Elizabeth II ordered an exact replica of the gown which
was created by her dressmaker, Angela Kelly. The first royal baby
to wear that was Louise’s brother, James, Earl of Wessex. Prince
George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all wore the replica at
their baptisms.
Queen Victoria wanted the christening outfit to benefit British
dressmakers and so asked for it to be made out of Spitalfields
silk, from the east end of London, and Honiton lace, from Devon.
She was keen that smaller industries, particularly those run by
women from their own homes, were showcased in the creation of the
gown in the hope that it would boost trade.
first chance ever to see the royal christening gown as part of an
exhibition
(Royal Collection Trust)
Babies also wore a bonnet and shawl which will be on show. These
were covered in symbols of the United Kingdom.
Ahead of the exhibition, over 100 hours of work has taken place
to restore the gown. Textile conservator, Cecilia 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.’
Work has included patching up holes in the outfit believed to
have happened when the royal babies wearing it kicked and wriggled
in their unusual gown.
Among the royal babies to wear the gown are six monarchs: King
Edward VII, King George V, King Edward VIII, King George VI, Queen
Elizabeth II and King Charles III. Prince William, first in line to
the throne, also wore the christening outfit when he was baptised
at Buckingham Palace in August 1982.
The gown will go on show as part of the
exhibition, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in
Style. It takes place at The King’s Gallery,
Buckingham Palace, from 10 April to 18 October 2026, Tickets cost
£22 for adults and £11 for children and are available from
the Royal Collection Trust
website.
