The royal family has no shortage of gorgeous gowns. From Princess Margaret’s statement-making birthday dress to Princess Diana’s wedding gown, it’s basically a royal rite of passage to wear a seriously jaw-dropping design. Here, we’ve rounded up the greatest royal gown moments of all time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Princess Anne, 1973
Princess Anne wore a floral printed gown with a sleek updo to a film premiere in London with her first husband, Mark Phillips.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Princess Anne, 1980
The Princess Royal wore a white dress with an embroidered overlay to an event at the Royal Opera House in London.
Princess Diana, 1981
Di’s famous 1981 wedding gown was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. Between her 25-foot train and 153-yard tulle veil, the look was truly fit for a princess.
Princess Diana, 1982
Diana was a vision in this red dress by David Sassoon at London’s Barbican.
