Two Queens in command: The military uniforms of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II

One of my highlights from the “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style” exhibition at the King’s Gallery was seeing the Queen’s full-dress military tunic of the Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards. Made by Bernard Weatherill in 1952, the tunic is highly inspired by Queen Victoria’s military uniform dating back from the 1850s.

Following the conclusion of the Crimean war in March 1856 many military reviews welcoming back brave soldiers were held. As Commander-in-chief of the Military it was Queen Victoria’s duty to attend. However, Victoria was female so didn’t own a military uniform and attending such poignant reviews in her usual green riding habits would be too informal for such poignant events. Consequently, it was decided that two new military uniforms would be commissioned and made for the Queen in a style resembling that of a British General.

Just like Queen Victoria’s uniform, Queen Elizabeth II’s military tunic is made of scarlet wool, with brass buttons and guilt-metal detailing. With an entire century between the production of both garments, there are some differences in the shapes and design, with Queen Elizabeth’s appearing much grander due to the addition of gold braiding on the shoulder, collar and breast.

Once again inspired by her Victorian counterpart, Queen Elizabeth II wore her tunic with a specially designed side saddle skirt, with the addition of jodhpurs. Like all officers, both Queen’s wore a black feathered hat, a sash and gloves. Queen Elizabeth also wore a selection of medals for her services during the war, along with other commemorative medals.

You can see Queen Elizabeth II’s military uniform on display at the King’s Gallery in London along with many of her iconic outfits. The “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style” exhibition is on until April 2027 and is well worth visiting if you haven’t already!

© Queen.Victoria.Roses 2026

Queen Victoria’s military uniform

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