Best of the most breathtaking royal wardrobe recreations on ‘The Crown’

Besides all of the challenges Netflix’s The Crown had to endure, perhaps the most gratifying to observe was the one involving the show’s wardrobe.

With so many exciting opportunities to recreate sartorial looks from the royal family’s real life moments, the several instances where the costume designers got it just right felt like a bountiful feast for the eyes.

However, as with its historical retelling, the series did take some liberties with the fashion that was depicted onscreen as well.

While considerable research was involved in the designs, the show’s costume designer once revealed that eventually, all of it would prove to be “too overwhelming” and the team would go on putting their own spin on things.

“All of us have our own particular taste and opinion on the royal family and that needs to be reflected. So we take the research and chuck it out, otherwise it’s all stilted and stiff,” Amy Roberts, the designer who joined the show from season three onward, told British Vogue.

While the costume head for seasons one and two, Michele Clapton revealed, “We do it as properly as we can. If we didn’t do it that well, we couldn’t tell our other stories.”

The contrast between the differing tastes of The Crown’s different costume teams provided an impressive array of some of the most enviable wardrobe ever put on screen.

Here are some of the best looks from it:

Queen Elizabeth’s wedding look

The Queen’s wedding dress in the first season’s premiere episode was almost an exact replica of the real life thing, however, decidedly and evidently less pleated around the hem.

“It took five days to shoot that scene, and the dress, an exact replica, weighed a ton,” said Claire Foy, the actress who played a young Princess Elizabeth, about the recreation of the original Norman Hartwell ivory silk duchesse satin design.

The funeral look

Depicting the death of Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, the simple yet elegant funeral look featured a black coat adorned with a brooch, and complete with a veil.

The coronation look

For Elizabeth’s coronation as the United Kingdom’s new queen, the extravagant look took a whole lot of work.

“We had a work room with five or six people creating the principals’ costumes, and then various work rooms creating elements for the other dresses—embroidered pieces—just endless pieces,” Michele Clapton told Vanity Fair.

Prince Philip’s coronation look

Played by Matt Smith during the show’s first two seasons, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh’s look at his wife’s coronation was also faithfully recreated by the costume team.

His heavy and long red velvet robe with a fur trim over black military garbs was a particular highlight of the men’s fashion on the show.

Princess Margaret’s butterfly look

Princess Margaret was a fashion icon in her own right and as the family rebel, her style choices reflected her individualist nature.

This white off-the-shoulder gown featuring sparkly butterflies was included in season two of The Crown, when the Princess was forced to sit for a photographic session which left her wholly unsatisfied.

Margaret’s wedding look

Wedding looks proved to be a job particularly well done in the royal series and Princess Margaret’s matrimonial dress for her wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones was no exception.

Her sophisticated wedding gown which elegantly accentuated her waist was designed by Jane Petrie for The Crown’s second season.

The Kennedy appointment looks

For the highly publicised arrival of the Kennedys at Buckingham Palace, while Queen Elizabeth’s look was created exactly true to real life, Jackie Kennedy’s taffeta gown was slightly changed.

Sticking with the same colour scheme, the American first lady’s gown was modified from its original boat neck look and featured a different hairstyle on the show.

The investiture looks

King Charles’ investiture as the Prince of Wales was part of the show’s storyline in season three and the various recreations of the royal family’s looks at the ceremony did not disappoint.

Showcasing Queen Elizabeth’s silk pastel look complete with helmet inspired headwear, Princess Anne’s blue coat dress and matching headpiece, Queen Mother’s bright green look, as well as a young Prince Charles’ traditional royal garbs were closely captured for the landmark moment.

Diana’s debut look

Season four is when the fun really begins as the “people’s princess”, Lady Diana Spencer is introduced on the show and many of her memorable royal looks follow her introduction.

For her first fashion look, the show recreated this cheerful pale yellow overalls look paired with a cardigan onscreen, from a real life moment which took place a few years later than the show’s timeline.

Queen’s Trooping the Colour look

For season four’s opener, the series showcased Queen Elizabeth’s Trooping of the Colour look from the 1979 ceremony.

Riding on the horseback with a regal side saddle, the Queen’s red and black military look was fashioned to perfection by Olivia Colman as a middle aged Elizabeth.

Charles and Diana’s engagement looks

For the highly anticipated announcement of the then future king’s engagement, the new couple spoke to the press with Charles dressed in a grey suit, and his bride-to-be in a royal blue skirt and jacket ensemble, complete with a printed white and blue blouse underneath the top.

Also topping off Princess Diana’s look was the recreation of her famous sapphire engagement ring, one of the most recognisable royal jewellery.

The wedding look seen around the world

For the recreation of Princess Diana’s memorable wedding gown, the costume designer Amy Roberts aimed to “recreate for people how they felt about the dress”, instead of an exact replica.

To that extent, the gown’s front is shown briefly near the end of one episode in season four as Diana turns and the extravagantly lengthy train of her iconic wedding gown takes centre stage.

The Australia & New Zealand tour look

For the all important to Australia and New Zealand tour, the Prince and Princess of Wales as well as new parents, Charles and Diana embarked on the journey alongside their young son, Prince William.

While many looks were recreated for the episode depicting the tour, the flawless recreation of the looks the couple adorned to visit the Ayer’s Rock were entirely too good to pass.

Princess Diana’s swimsuit looks

Two of the most iconic pieces from Diana’s swimwear included this animal print one piece as well as a turquoise one, both of which make appearances on The Crown seasons five and six.

While the diving board swimwear moment is so ingrained in public consciousness, it needs no introduction, the leopard printed one served important symbolism on the show and in real life — “As a look, it’s symbolic: on this holiday, she’s in the wild and she’s being hunted. She comes out, and it’s like a safari with all these photographers taking pictures of her,” explained costume designer Sid Roberts.

The Balmoral looks

A photoshoot session Prince Charles undertook with his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, in August 1997 was part of the show’s sixth and final season.

Charles’ traditional Scottish style and the young princes’ semi formal looks were a close match for the real life moment.

Kate Middleton’s bold look

As the show’s last season rolled around, the current Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton made her debut as a young university student on the show.

This recreation of the sheer fashion moment her future husband, Prince William, undeniably fell for her was given a sleeker update by Amy Roberts with slight alterations — like replacing the dress’ lace texture with a crinkly one.

The final look

As the show concluded with Charles’ second wedding to Camilla, the final look on the show was that of an older Queen Elizabeth, who hosted her eldest son and his new wife for a wedding reception at Windsor Castle.

At the ceremony which is remembered for her unusually emotional address, the Queen was dressed in a white tweed ensemble, complete with a matching feathered hat and exquisite details like pearl jewellery and a silver brooch.