70 of the Greatest Gowns the Royal Family Has Worn Over Time

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Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, 1949

Then-Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret went glamorous for a royal variety performance in London. The sisters each wore an elaborate ball gown with fur wraps.

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Princess Margaret, 1951

In 1951, Margaret posed for a birthday portrait taken by Cecil Beaton in a one-shouldered cream gown with gold embellishment by Christian Dior.

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Queen Elizabeth, 1953

For her coronation day, the Queen had an elaborate gown designed by Norman Hartnell. The dress was made of a white duchess satin, and was embroidered with floral emblems representing the Commonwealth countries in a gold and silver thread.

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Queen Elizabeth, 1954

Queen Elizabeth threw a fur stole over an elegant white lace one-shouldered ball gown. The royal's glamorous sartorial choice was worn during her Commonwealth tour in Australia in 1954.

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Princess Margaret, 1956

Margaret posed for her 26th birthday portrait wearing a one-shouldered pink tulle gown. The dress featured elaborate flower embroidery and sequins.

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Queen Elizabeth, 1961

American royalty met actual royalty when President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy visited Buckingham Palace for the first time. The Queen wore a blue ballgown by Norman Hartnell with white gloves for the occasion.

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Queen Elizabeth, 1962

While attending the premiere of Lawrence of Arabia in 1962, the Queen wore a taffeta and crystal ball gown designed by Norman Hartnell. The dress would make a public appearance almost 60 years later on the Queen's granddaughter, Princess Beatrice. The young royal borrowed and altered her grandmother's gown for her wedding day in 2020.

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Princess Margaret, 1965

In 1965, Princess Margaret wore a blue dress and coat with a stunning tiara during a visit to America. The princess attended an event at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles with Lord Snowdon.

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Princess Margaret, 1965

In 1965, Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones visited President Lyndon Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson at the White House. The princess wore a bright pink dress with a matching jacket for the occasion, paired with a stunning necklace.

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Princess Anne and Queen Elizabeth, 1969

In May 1969, the monarch and her daughter, Princess Anne, went on a state visit to Austria. Both royals went full glamorous for an event at the British Embassy: Anne wore a white dress with a sash, gloves, and a tiara, while the Queen wore a lime green gown with a matching sash and lots of jewelry.

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Queen Elizabeth, 1970

Queen Elizabeth stunned during her royal tour of Australia in a sleeveless satin sheath evening gown. The regal dress was completed with a crystal embellished bodice and train.

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Princess Anne, 1973

Princess Anne wore a floral printed gown with a sleek updo to a film premiere in London with her husband, Mark Phillips.

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Princess Margaret, 1974

Princess Margaret wore a white caped gown with sequined detailing to a ballet performance she attended with her husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones, in New York.

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Queen Elizabeth, 1974

For the premiere of Murder on the Orient Express, Queen Elizabeth added diamond and sapphire jewelry to an elegant teal chiffon evening gown with bell sleeves and crystal embroidery. Her Majesty accessorized the look with white elbow-length gloves and a silver beaded clutch.

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Queen Elizabeth, 1976

During a state visit in Washington, D.C., Queen Elizabeth wore this bright yellow design for a formal dinner with President Ford.

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Princess Anne, 1978

Princess Anne, the Queen's only daughter, wore a floral ruffled gown for an event at the Dorchester Hotel in London. The princess finished the look off with elegant white evening gloves.

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The Queen Mother, 1980

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, wore a white chiffon evening gown to her 80th birthday celebration in 1980. She paired the gown with a stunning tiara and necklace set.

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Princess Anne, 1980

The Princess Royal wore a white dress with an embroidered overlay to an event at the Royal Opera House in London.

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Princess Diana, 1981

Princess Diana wore an off-the-shoulder chiffon evening gown, designed by Bellville Sassoon, in 1981. The Princess was famously photographed asleep while attending the event and, as a result, the palace revealed she was expecting her first child.

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Princess Diana, 1984

Diana wore a pink and white dress by Catherine Walker to a ballet performance in London.

Maggie Maloney is the Site Director of Oprah Daily. She previously worked at Town & Country, Elle DECOR, and Something Navy. 

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