Age of Elegance: The Edwardians at the King’s Gallery

The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace invites visitors to explore the opulence and glamour of the Edwardian era through the lives and tastes of two of Britain’s most fashionable royal couples: King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, as well as King George V and Queen Mary. The exhibition showcases their family lives, personal collections, glittering social circles, and spectacular royal events. It features over 300 objects from the Royal Collection, including works by Carl Fabergé and some of England’s most celebrated modern artists of that period. Afisha.London shares insights about the exhibition.

Covering the period from Edward and Alexandra’s wedding in 1863 to the end of the First World War, the exhibition examines the lavish lives and preferences of Britain’s two royal couples during a time of significant influence and dramatic transformation, as Europe edged closer to conflict and Britain approached modernity. Visitors can delve into the glamour and excitement of the Edwardian era with a free multimedia guide narrated by Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville.

After 40 years of Queen Victoria’s mourning for Albert, the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra was meant to herald a glorious new era for the royal family. The exhibition showcases, for the first time, many of the items commissioned by the royal couple for this occasion.

One of the most impressive pieces is Queen Alexandra’s gold coronation dress, on display for the first time in 30 years. Traditionally, coronation dresses were simple white or cream garments inspired by clerical vestments. However, Alexandra was a fashion icon known for her sophisticated style.

She chose a striking gold gown designed by the Parisian fashion house Morin Blossier. The dress was embroidered with thousands of gold sequins, designed to sparkle under the electric lights specifically installed in Westminster Abbey for the occasion. The dress is extremely fragile, and conservators spent over 100 hours preparing it for display. In addition to Alexandra’s gown, visitors will see Edward’s gold coronation robes, the throne chairs commissioned for the event, and ceremonial portraits over three meters high.

Photo: Afisha.London

Both royal couples were surrounded by fashionable aristocracy, and their lives were filled with garden parties, concerts, and masquerade balls. Visitors can see memorabilia from these events — from the “Mary Stuart” costume that Alexandra wore to a masquerade in 1871 to a pair of Tiffany & Co. opera glasses made of gold, diamonds, and pearls.

Beyond the festivities, the exhibition also reveals the familial aspects of the royal couples’ lives. It recreates the setting of their private residences, where decorative objects and photographs fill every surface. Among the highlights are family photographs taken by Alexandra with an early Kodak camera and sculptures of animals from the Fabergé collection, commissioned by Edward in 1907.

‘The Edwardians: Age of Elegance’ is available to the public until November 23 at the King’s Gallery. Learn more

Cover photo: Afisha.London

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