Court to Couture, the power of fashion

From 26 March 2021 to 31 October 2021, visitors to Kensington Palace will discover how clothing has consistently been used for spectacle, social comment and political statement, from the Georgian court to the modern-day high fashion events.

Visitors will be immersed in the world of the red carpet as the palace’s rooms are brought to life with examples of spectacular 18th century court dress, juxtaposed with show-stopping modern designs. Discover how the Georgian court prepared for and travelled to lavish royal functions at Kensington Palace and how this compares to getting ready for a 21st century red carpet event. Included in this display will be the Rockingham mantua – a stunningly intricate dress created for the Marchioness of Rockingham in the 1700s – which will be contrasted with contemporary couture dresses from some of the world’s top designers.

Alongside the glamorous gowns, portraits of some of the first Georgian celebrities will be paired with examples of modern high-fashion photography.

This exhibition will take over the whole palace, visitors will still have access to the acclaimed Victoria: A royal childhood rooms.

Admission will be by pre-booked time-slot for groups and individuals. There will be no walk-up admissions during the exhibition