Diamond Jubilee: Queen Elizabeth II's Style

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BRIDE OF HER COUNTRY

For her Westminster Abbey wedding to Prince Philip in 1947, the 21-year-old princess wore a Norman Hartnell dress with a sweetheart neckline, full sleeves and flowing A-line skirt embroidered with pearls. Though she, like all Britons, had to use ration coupons in post-war Britain to buy the material for her dress, she upped the glamour quotient with her stunning tiara.

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LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

A year after her father passed away in February 1952, Elizabeth ascended to the throne in another silk Norman Hartnell gown, lavishly embroidered with emblems of the British Empire. During the ceremony she received "the four symbols of authority" (the orb, the scepter, the rod of mercy and the royal ring of sapphire and rubies), and St. Edward's Crown was placed on her head to complete her formal attire.

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DECKED OUT DOWN UNDER

The Queen returned to Wellington, New Zealand (two years after her visit there had been cut short due to her father's death), in high style. Her shimmering rose gold one-shoulder gown with floral embroidery, plus a striking tiara and white fur, embodied regal glamour.

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COMING UP ROSES

In addition to her royal duties, the Queen also served another important role: mother to four children. While posing with 9-year-old Princess Anne in 1959, she swapped her regal finery for a floral A-line skirt suit and simple black pumps.

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HAT'S THE TICKET

Queen Elizabeth II embraced '60s style in a big way, wearing a high-shine swing coat and matching A-line dress with white pumps and a glorious flowered hat during a tour of India in 1961.

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DAY SHIFT

En route to meet Richard Nixon at Buckingham Palace in 1969, the Queen exercised her right to bare arms in a sleeveless fuchsia sheath, plus a kicky little handbag and buckle-topped patent pumps.

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FLOWER POWER

She may be the head of state, but Elizabeth isn't above donning an ultra-feminine ensemble: She wore a pretty pleated daisy-print skirt suit, a wide-brim hat and Mary-Janes to a Westminster Abbey wedding in 1972.

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HAIR APPARENT

Known for her fabulous collection of hats, the Queen was spotted in much simpler headgear while feting her Silver Jubilee in 1977. She wore a colorful print scarf, paired with a sensible white sheath, low-heeled pumps and trademark pearls and a brooch during a celebration in Fiji.

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UP HER SLEEVE

Stodgy? Not so! The monarch got funky in a far-out ensemble on her 1979 visit to Kuwait, complete with embroidered bell sleeves and silver accessories. Also on her tour of the Gulf States, Elizabeth modeled a studded pillbox hat, an elegant orange caftan and massive chandelier earrings.

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SUMMER OF GLOVE

Also spotted on her stylish tour of the Middle East was this psychedelic green-and-purple printed gown, worn with the same silver bag and elbow-length gloves in Oman.

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GLAM FOR GRAM

At her mother's 80th birthday celebration in London, Elizabeth shined in a subtle way – wearing a pale violet gown with hints of shimmering sequin beading along the cuffs and collar, plus her favorite silver shoes and handbag.

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PLEATS TO BE HERE

The Queen's more serious style began to emerge in 1981, for the London wedding of Prince Charles to Diana, Princess of Wales. In a shocking teal dress with a pleated skirt and matching accessories, the monarch managed to make a style statement, even next to Diana's 25-foot train.

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START YOUR ENGINES

At the 1982 International Driving Grand Prix in Windsor, England, the Queen returned to her slightly more relaxed style. She covered her do in a silk scarf, and completed her chic driving ensemble with a printed blouse, camel-colored cardigan and mid-calf skirt, plus sensible loafers.

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LOOKING GOOD

Playing tourist in the Solomon Islands in 1982, Elizabeth still looked every bit the proper monarch. Her ensembles consisted of long-sleeve, mid-calf skirt suits, sturdy pumps and killer hats (plus those omnipresent pearls!) whether on a boat, seeing native dancers or being carried in a traditional war canoe.

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NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN

Before William and Kate's stylish royal Canadian tour, the Queen visited our neighbors to the north in 1984 wearing an '80s drop-waist white satin dress with look-at-me sleeves and a major crown.

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RED-Y FOR ANYTHING

She has long favored blues and pastel shades, but the Queen remained on top of trends by embracing the era's power suits. She wore a strong-shouldered, lipstick-red dress-and-jacket ensemble, complete with a matching pillbox and a bold gold brooch, for a London outing in 1989.

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LAVENDER LOOK-ALIKES

Though Diana would divorce Charles only two years later, in 1994 she and the Queen presented a unified front at a London event, both wearing pretty lilac skirt suits with coordinating over-the-top toppers.

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DIAMOND LIFE

Perhaps she saves her most dramatic dresses for Kuwait... On a return trip to the sovereign Arab state in 1995, Queen Elizabeth glowed in a flowing silver gown embossed with floral details, plus metallic accessories and glamorous gems.

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THE WHITE QUEEN

Opting for another favorite color – white – the Queen opened Parliament in 1998 in a dazzling long lace gown, a dramatic fur-trimmed coat and perfectly-matched golden accessories. She accented her look (naturally) with a beautiful crown.

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ADORING FANS

For a 2001 state visit to Norway, the 75-year-old Queen picked a playful fan-embroidered white gown with a pale pink accent belt, plus diamond jewels and a familiar gold purse. Between their penchant to remix their wardrobes, their practical styles and genuine smiles, it's no wonder the Queen and Kate are royal BFFs!)

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NEON QUEEN

Think Queen Elizabeth's clothes are dated? Think again. Check out Her Majesty rocking the neon trend two years before it hit big. In her hot pink-and-chartreuse floral jacket and perfectly matching chapeau, the Queen made quite the killer statement while unveiling a statue of herself in Canada.

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BUTTER HER UP

To reflect her sunny disposition on the wedding day of her grandson to Kate Middleton, the Queen was radiant in a cheery yellow coat and matching hat, plus ivory accessories.

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STATELY RELATIONS

To welcome the Obamas to a state banquet in London, the Queen sparkled in an embroidered white gown, major gems and metallic accessories, mirroring Michelle Obama's stately Tom Ford gown and drop earrings.

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RASPBERRY HOORAY

To commemorate her 60th year on the throne, the Queen kicked off her Diamond Jubilee celebration in London with the Duchess of Cambridge in coordinating jewel-tone ensembles with black accents.

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STILL STYLISH AFTER 60

The Queen's official Diamond Jubilee portrait recalls her wedding portrait with Prince Philip from 65 years ago. Wearing a white silk and silver sequin dress by Angela Kelly and the State Diadem crown – as well as Queen Victoria's Collet Necklace – she looks elegant, regal and ready to celebrate her major milestone.

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TRAVEL CHIC

No sweatpants and UGGs for this traveler! The Queen even looks put together while traveling – like in this houndstooth coat and headscarf.

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MODERN MONARCH

Her matching hat-and-coat ensemble may be a classic, but Queen Elizabeth proved she's just as hip as her grandkids when she sent her first tweet during a visit to the Science Museum in London in 2014.

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ROYAL PURPLE

What's a queen without a wardrobe chock full of the most regal color of all? She rocked this violet-hued coat during a 2015 event at Buckingham Palace.

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