38 of the monarch’s most colourful fashion moments
On Tuesday 21 April Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 94th birthday.
In addition to being the longest-reigning British monarch and having a particular fondness for corgis, the Queen is also globally recognised for her bold sartorial choices.
Never one to shy away from wearing vibrant colours, the royal frequently dons bright shades of pink, blue, green and yellow to public engagements, much to the delight of the crowds she encounters.
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In commemoration of her 94th birthday, here are 38 of the Queen’s most colourful fashion moments:
1/38 Beaming in blue
The Queen is pictured in an azure coat with a zig-zag buttoning detail as she attends the opening of the National Cyber Security Centre in London on 14 February 2017.
Getty Images
2/38 Going bold for Easter
The Queen leaves the Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on 5 April 2015, wearing a sky blue coat and matching hat.
Getty Images
3/38 All smiles in lilac
Queen Elizabeth II was all smiles as she attended the Braemar Gathering on 3 September 2016, wearing a purple ensemble adorned with vertical and diagonal line detailing.
Getty Images
4/38 Colourful Christmas
Magenta was the colour of choice for the monarch on Christmas Day in 2014, as she attended the Christmas Day Service with the royal family at Sandringham Church.
Getty Images
5/38 Bringing a burst of colour to the racecourse
Among a sea of grey suits, the Queen stood out at the Royal Ascot on 17 June 2016, wearing a salmon pink coat and feathered hat.
Getty Images
6/38 Royally radiant
While Christmas is usually associated with red and green, in 2017 the Queen attended Christmas Day Church Service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in an eye-catching shade of bright orange.
Getty Images
7/38 Summer fashion done right
Queen Elizabeth II fully embraced the arrival of summer on 23 May 2017, when she attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in sunflower yellow.
Getty Images
8/38 Regal elegance at its finest
The monarch donned a very regal look while attending the State Opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster on 25 May 2010, matching her crown with a gold patterned dress, pearl jewellery and a small gold handbag.
Getty Images
9/38 Finding the silver lining
The Queen is pictured in a silver, floral ensemble at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, Uganda, as she attended the Queen’s Banquet for Commonwealth Heads of Government on 23 November 2007.
Getty Images
10/38 A queen from head to toe
On 14 July 2000, Queen Elizabeth II wore her full regalia for the Service of the Order of St Michael and St George at St Paul’s Cathedral.
AFP/Getty Images
11/38 Green with delight
The Queen appeared to be in high spirits as she attended the Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland on 1 September 2007, donning an emerald green ensemble.
Getty Images
12/38 Paying tribute to Ireland
On 17 May 2011, Queen Elizabeth II became the first monarch to visit Dublin, Ireland since 1911. The Queen honoured the country by wearing a seafoam shade of green.
Getty Images
13/38 Colour co-ordinating
On 18 October 2014, the Queen attended the BQIPCO British Champions Day at the Ascot Racecourse, dressed in an outfit which combined dark blue with a lighter shade.
14/38 Regal purple
The monarch donned the regal colour purple while making an appearance at the newly-opened James Armstrong Richardson International airport in Winnipeg, Canada on 3 July 2010.
Getty Images
15/38 A joyous, canine enounter
Two of the Queen’s apparent greatest interests are wearing colourful outfits and corgis. Her passions were combined on 1 May 2012, when she encountered a group of corgis at Sherborne Abbey in Sherborne, England dressed in a fuchsia ensemble.
Getty Images
16/38 Never letting the rain dampen her spirits
Over the years, the Queen has been spotted matching her umbrellas with her outfits on several occasions. On 10 May 2016, the monarch was photographed at a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace, pairing her bubblegum pink ensemble with a clear and pink umbrella.
Getty Images
17/38 A very merry Christmas
Another day, another matching umbrella. The Queen opted for a red coat with fur trimming on Christmas Day in 2015.
Getty Images
18/38 A floral summer ensemble
The Queen got into the spirit of summer during a visit to Winnipeg, Canada on 3 July 2010, wearing a pink and yellow patterned, floral dress and a bright pink hat. The appearance of several corgis at the event likely put her in high spirits.
Getty Images
19/38 Subtle yet stylish
While less colourful than the Queen’s usual outfits, this ensemble was still a bold choice for the monarch as she visited the British Garden at Hanover Square in New York City on 6 July 2010.
Getty Images
20/38 A royal occasion
In celebration of the Queen’s 92nd birthday, the monarch attended a special performance at the Royal Albert Hall in her honour. The Queen wore a mid-length dress designed with a gold floral pattern.
Getty Images
21/38 Multicoloured to the max
On 24 May 2010, the Queen attended a VIP preview of the Chelsea Flower Show at Royal Hospital Chelsea. Her outfit seemed to match the flowers she was perusing, combining a multitude of vibrant colours.
Getty Images
22/38 Minty fresh
The Queen donned a shade of mint green as she attended the service of Holy Communion at the inauguration of the 7th General Synod of the Church of England on 14 November 2000.
AFP/Getty Images
23/38 Positively periwinkle
The Queen cut a chic figure as she left Westminster Abbey following a service to mark the centenary of Australia’s constitution on 7 July 2000, wearing a sky blue overcoat and a dark blue hat.
AFP/Getty Images
24/38 Royal blue
A colour fit for a Queen, the monarch donned royal blue during a visit to the newly opened National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, London on 29 March 2007.
AFP/Getty Images
25/38 A colour fit for a queen
The Queen’s outfit colour choice was perfectly apt for the Commissioning Ceremony of HMS Queen Elizabeth on 7 December 2017. Her daughter Anne, Princess Royal, followed behind.
Getty Images
26/38 Bold in red
The Queen donned scarlet red as she welcomed the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, to her Windsor residence on 26 October 2010 during a state visit.
Getty Images
27/38 In pink at the polo
Queen Elizabeth II was beaming in pink on 16 June 2013, pictured attending the Cartier Queen’s Cup Final at Guards Polo Club in Egham, England.
Getty Images
28/38 Portant rose en France
A portrait of the Queen was taken during her third official visit to France on 11 June 1992. In the picture, the monarch wore grey gloves with a pink coat, hat and pearl jewellery.
AFP/Getty Images
29/38 A colourful celebration
In celebration of the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on 29 April 2011, the Queen wore a shade of bright yellow to the nuptials.
Getty Images
30/38 Dazzlingly bright
On the final day of a four-day state visit to Germany on 26 June 2015, the Queen was pictured wearing a lemon yellow coat and matching hat.
Getty Images
31/38 Never one to blend into the crowd
While visiting the Lexicon shopping centre in Bracknell on 19 October 2018, the Queen opted for a vibrant shade of turquoise for her outfit.
Getty Images
32/38 Grass green
The monarch appeared to match the greenery of her surroundings as she arrived at the Epsom Festival at Epsom Downs racecourse on 4 June 2005.
Getty Images
33/38 Taking florals to the next level
During a visit to Nicosia, Cyprus on 19 October 1993, the Queen embraced florals to the nth degree, wearing a blue, three quarter length-sleeved patterned dress, a matching floral embellished hat and carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
AFP/Getty Images
34/38 Commanding the room
Sat upon the golden Sovereign’s Throne, the Queen delivered a speech at the State Opening of parliament in the House of Lords on 21 June 2017 wearing a bright blue coat and a yellow and blue patterned floral dress.
Getty Images
35/38 Chic in burgundy
The monarch opted for a burgundy look while attending the 2018 Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on 12 March 2018.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
36/38 Glittering in gold
On 19 November 2012, the Queen attended the Royal Variety performance at the Royal Albert Hall in an ornate gold and silver striped wrap gown.
Getty Images
37/38 A poignant celebration
Queen Elizabeth II combined Olympic blue and turquoise for the ensemble she chose to wear for the commemoration of the centenary of the RAF with on 10 July 2018.
Getty Images
38/38 An enduring love of colour
The Queen has clearly always had an eye for bright colours. Here the monarch appears at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1960, dressed in a canary yellow outfit.
Getty Images
1/38 Beaming in blue
The Queen is pictured in an azure coat with a zig-zag buttoning detail as she attends the opening of the National Cyber Security Centre in London on 14 February 2017.
Getty Images
2/38 Going bold for Easter
The Queen leaves the Easter Sunday service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on 5 April 2015, wearing a sky blue coat and matching hat.
Getty Images
3/38 All smiles in lilac
Queen Elizabeth II was all smiles as she attended the Braemar Gathering on 3 September 2016, wearing a purple ensemble adorned with vertical and diagonal line detailing.
Getty Images
4/38 Colourful Christmas
Magenta was the colour of choice for the monarch on Christmas Day in 2014, as she attended the Christmas Day Service with the royal family at Sandringham Church.
Getty Images
5/38 Bringing a burst of colour to the racecourse
Among a sea of grey suits, the Queen stood out at the Royal Ascot on 17 June 2016, wearing a salmon pink coat and feathered hat.
Getty Images
6/38 Royally radiant
While Christmas is usually associated with red and green, in 2017 the Queen attended Christmas Day Church Service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in an eye-catching shade of bright orange.
Getty Images
7/38 Summer fashion done right
Queen Elizabeth II fully embraced the arrival of summer on 23 May 2017, when she attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in sunflower yellow.
Getty Images
8/38 Regal elegance at its finest
The monarch donned a very regal look while attending the State Opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster on 25 May 2010, matching her crown with a gold patterned dress, pearl jewellery and a small gold handbag.
Getty Images
9/38 Finding the silver lining
The Queen is pictured in a silver, floral ensemble at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, Uganda, as she attended the Queen’s Banquet for Commonwealth Heads of Government on 23 November 2007.
Getty Images
10/38 A queen from head to toe
On 14 July 2000, Queen Elizabeth II wore her full regalia for the Service of the Order of St Michael and St George at St Paul’s Cathedral.
AFP/Getty Images
11/38 Green with delight
The Queen appeared to be in high spirits as she attended the Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland on 1 September 2007, donning an emerald green ensemble.
Getty Images
12/38 Paying tribute to Ireland
On 17 May 2011, Queen Elizabeth II became the first monarch to visit Dublin, Ireland since 1911. The Queen honoured the country by wearing a seafoam shade of green.
Getty Images
13/38 Colour co-ordinating
On 18 October 2014, the Queen attended the BQIPCO British Champions Day at the Ascot Racecourse, dressed in an outfit which combined dark blue with a lighter shade.
14/38 Regal purple
The monarch donned the regal colour purple while making an appearance at the newly-opened James Armstrong Richardson International airport in Winnipeg, Canada on 3 July 2010.
Getty Images
15/38 A joyous, canine enounter
Two of the Queen’s apparent greatest interests are wearing colourful outfits and corgis. Her passions were combined on 1 May 2012, when she encountered a group of corgis at Sherborne Abbey in Sherborne, England dressed in a fuchsia ensemble.
Getty Images
16/38 Never letting the rain dampen her spirits
Over the years, the Queen has been spotted matching her umbrellas with her outfits on several occasions. On 10 May 2016, the monarch was photographed at a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace, pairing her bubblegum pink ensemble with a clear and pink umbrella.
Getty Images
17/38 A very merry Christmas
Another day, another matching umbrella. The Queen opted for a red coat with fur trimming on Christmas Day in 2015.
Getty Images
18/38 A floral summer ensemble
The Queen got into the spirit of summer during a visit to Winnipeg, Canada on 3 July 2010, wearing a pink and yellow patterned, floral dress and a bright pink hat. The appearance of several corgis at the event likely put her in high spirits.
Getty Images
19/38 Subtle yet stylish
While less colourful than the Queen’s usual outfits, this ensemble was still a bold choice for the monarch as she visited the British Garden at Hanover Square in New York City on 6 July 2010.
Getty Images
20/38 A royal occasion
In celebration of the Queen’s 92nd birthday, the monarch attended a special performance at the Royal Albert Hall in her honour. The Queen wore a mid-length dress designed with a gold floral pattern.
Getty Images
21/38 Multicoloured to the max
On 24 May 2010, the Queen attended a VIP preview of the Chelsea Flower Show at Royal Hospital Chelsea. Her outfit seemed to match the flowers she was perusing, combining a multitude of vibrant colours.
Getty Images
22/38 Minty fresh
The Queen donned a shade of mint green as she attended the service of Holy Communion at the inauguration of the 7th General Synod of the Church of England on 14 November 2000.
AFP/Getty Images
23/38 Positively periwinkle
The Queen cut a chic figure as she left Westminster Abbey following a service to mark the centenary of Australia’s constitution on 7 July 2000, wearing a sky blue overcoat and a dark blue hat.
AFP/Getty Images
24/38 Royal blue
A colour fit for a Queen, the monarch donned royal blue during a visit to the newly opened National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, London on 29 March 2007.
AFP/Getty Images
25/38 A colour fit for a queen
The Queen’s outfit colour choice was perfectly apt for the Commissioning Ceremony of HMS Queen Elizabeth on 7 December 2017. Her daughter Anne, Princess Royal, followed behind.
Getty Images
26/38 Bold in red
The Queen donned scarlet red as she welcomed the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, to her Windsor residence on 26 October 2010 during a state visit.
Getty Images
27/38 In pink at the polo
Queen Elizabeth II was beaming in pink on 16 June 2013, pictured attending the Cartier Queen’s Cup Final at Guards Polo Club in Egham, England.
Getty Images
28/38 Portant rose en France
A portrait of the Queen was taken during her third official visit to France on 11 June 1992. In the picture, the monarch wore grey gloves with a pink coat, hat and pearl jewellery.
AFP/Getty Images
29/38 A colourful celebration
In celebration of the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on 29 April 2011, the Queen wore a shade of bright yellow to the nuptials.
Getty Images
30/38 Dazzlingly bright
On the final day of a four-day state visit to Germany on 26 June 2015, the Queen was pictured wearing a lemon yellow coat and matching hat.
Getty Images
31/38 Never one to blend into the crowd
While visiting the Lexicon shopping centre in Bracknell on 19 October 2018, the Queen opted for a vibrant shade of turquoise for her outfit.
Getty Images
32/38 Grass green
The monarch appeared to match the greenery of her surroundings as she arrived at the Epsom Festival at Epsom Downs racecourse on 4 June 2005.
Getty Images
33/38 Taking florals to the next level
During a visit to Nicosia, Cyprus on 19 October 1993, the Queen embraced florals to the nth degree, wearing a blue, three quarter length-sleeved patterned dress, a matching floral embellished hat and carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
AFP/Getty Images
34/38 Commanding the room
Sat upon the golden Sovereign’s Throne, the Queen delivered a speech at the State Opening of parliament in the House of Lords on 21 June 2017 wearing a bright blue coat and a yellow and blue patterned floral dress.
Getty Images
35/38 Chic in burgundy
The monarch opted for a burgundy look while attending the 2018 Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on 12 March 2018.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
36/38 Glittering in gold
On 19 November 2012, the Queen attended the Royal Variety performance at the Royal Albert Hall in an ornate gold and silver striped wrap gown.
Getty Images
37/38 A poignant celebration
Queen Elizabeth II combined Olympic blue and turquoise for the ensemble she chose to wear for the commemoration of the centenary of the RAF with on 10 July 2018.
Getty Images
38/38 An enduring love of colour
The Queen has clearly always had an eye for bright colours. Here the monarch appears at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1960, dressed in a canary yellow outfit.
Getty Images
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