30 Side-By-Side Photos of Royal Outfits That Were Recreated on 'The Crown'
Season 1 (1954)
The Crown delivers on some serious royal glamour moments. In season 1, Claire Foy wore a sparkling gown and fur stole that is reminiscent of an outfit worn by Queen Elizabeth to a premiere in 1954.
Season 1 (1947)
While Princess Elizabeth (Claire Foy) waits for her engagement to be approved, she wears a mauve long sleeve dress with bow details. The dress depicted in The Crown's very first episode is a recreation of the dress Princess Elizabeth wore to announce her engagement to Prince Philip in 1947. In real-life, the arms were shorter and the fabric was a few shades lighter.
Season 1 (1947)
Not everything about Princess Elizabeth's wedding dress was the same. Her ivory satin dress had slightly different embroidery on the show and her lace-trimmed neckline was replaced with encrusted pearls, sequins, and diamonds. But don't think the show took the recreation of the iconic dress lightly: It took seven weeks to make and cost about $37,000.
Season 1 (1952)
Queen Elizabeth's solo tour of Kenya was a huge milestone for the young royal. For her arrival in Nairobi, Elizabeth wore a brown polka dot dress with a peplum waist. The show recreated the look exactly, down to the white handbag she carried.
Season 1 (1952)
The sudden death of her father, the King, occurred while Princess Elizabeth was on royal tour. The show depicts the sorrowing scene of her return with precision—from her pearl necklace to the diamond floral broach on her lapel.
Season 1 (1952)
During the mourning period of King George, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, and their mother were seen in black long sleeve mid-length dresses and thin black veils.
Season 1 (1953)
The Crown didn't stray from tradition for Queen Elizabeth's coronation. "We created all the dresses, the robes, the anointment gown, and it was just a huge task," costume designer Michele Clapton told Vanity Fair. "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."
Season 1 (1953)
For Prince Philip's coronation robe, the show continued to stay true to reality. Matt Smith donned a heavy red velvet and fur-trimmed robe, and the director captured the same angle that was shot in the real life footage.
Season 2 (1957)
For a moment as historic as the Queen's first televised Christmas speech, The Crown replicated her gold lamé tea dress. The identical frock even featured cap sleeves and a knotted bodice like the original.
Season 1 (1958)
While both The Crown and the Queen's royal portrait dresses were elegant and regal, there were quite a few differences. Both were adorned with the monarch's sash and medals, but the show's lace design was much softer than Queen Elizabeth's satin embroidered gown.
Season 2 (1959)
In season 2, viewers see Princess Margaret posing for famous photographer Cecil Beaton in an off-the-shoulder tulle ball gown, embroidered with sequin butterflies. The recreation of the dress is impressive. However, the photo was taken in 1944, not in 1959 as the show's timeline suggests.
Season 2 (1960)
Princess Margaret's Norman Hartwell wedding dress was recreated almost to a T. Costume designer Jane Petrie said the dress was made in a rush in one week without even so much as a fitting in a 2019 interview.
Season 2 (1960)
During the buildup to Princess Margaret's wedding, one could have missed the nearly identical recreation of Queen Elizabeth's dress. The monarch is only shown briefly in her cerulean belted dress, which featured a lace bodice and taffeta full skirt.
Season 2 (1960)
The Queen Mother's wedding day outfit was drastically different. Actress Victoria Hamilton wore a brocade jacket with mink fur trimmings and a matching fur cap, but in real life the mother of the bride wore an off-white beaded gown with a white fur jacket and hat. The show's costume designer, Janie Petrie, told Vanity Fair, "More often we'd take the spirit of what's real and adapt it for the scene, working closely with the show's royal advisor, Major David Rankin-Hunt, who was on set all day to answer any questions about royal style and etiquette."
Season 2 (1961)
When the Kennedys visited Buckingham Palace in 1961, the royals welcomed them with a stylish reception. Queen Elizabeth donned a blue ruffled chiffon ball gown with velvet finishes and diamond and sapphire jewelry, which the show recreated nearly identically.
Season 2 (1961)
So much of the allure of Jackie Kennedy was wrapped up in her fashion choices, so her costume design for her season 2 appearance was extremely important. The show opted to stray from the sleeveless taffeta column gown the First Lady wore in 1961, but kept with a similar vibe and long white gloves.
Season 2 (1961)
Season 2 featured Queen Elizabeth's royal visit to Ghana in 1961. The trip was important for the monarch, as it was used to secure relations with the Commonwealth nation. The series stuck to Queen Elizabeth's scalloped lace sheath dress for the historic scene.
Season 2 (1961)
Queen Elizabeth donned a sleeveless satin ball gown with a two-toned cape when she danced with Ghana's president, Kwame Nkrumah, on royal tour. The show recreated the outfit almost seam by seam—minus the clunky purse she was holding whilel she danced in real life.
Season 2 (1962)
In season 2, the Queen summons invites Jackie Kennedy to lunch at Windsor Castle. For the show, the First Lady wore in a gray suit set and a pillbox cap, which seemed to have been inspired by a real outfit Jackie wore to visit the Queen for lunch in 1962.
Season 3 (1966)
The monarch was thrown into a crisis when the tragic disaster happened in Aberfan in 1966. When Queen Elizabeth visited the town, she wore a burnt orange coat dress, trimmed with mink fur and a mink cap, both on the show and in real life.
Season 3 (1969)
Prince Charles donned traditional garb for his Prince of Wales investiture in Caernarvon, Wales in 1969. His fur shawl and crown were carefully recreated in season 3.
Season 3 (1969)
The Queen Mother looked bright and cheerful at Prince Charles's investiture ceremony. The series decided to dress actress Marion Bailey in almost the exact same lime green lace suit and fur hat.
Season 3 (1969)
The public began to take note of Princess Anne's style in the early '70s, including her investiture look. The young royal's blue coat dress, diamond broach, and pillbox hat were recreated for actress Erin Doherty in season 3.
Season 3 (1969)
No one could ever forget Queen Elizabeth's outfit for Prince Charles's investiture. The monarch wore a helmet-shaped fascinator, embellished with pearls and rhinestones. She paired the unusual topper with a matching pale yellow jacket, as did the show.
Season 3 (1972)
The royal family had a complicated relationship with the Duke of Windsor, but when he passed away in 1972, he was buried on the grounds of the Windsor Estate. Queen Elizabeth wore a simple black coat dress, diamond ribbon broach, and fascinator for the funeral in real-life and in season 3.
Season 3 (1975)
Prince Charles is known for his love of polo, so naturally The Crown had to depict him playing the sport. The show closely replicated his uniform, even keeping the Prince's jersey number the same.
Season 4 (1979)
Season 4 will dive into the Prime Minister term of Margaret Thatcher. One of the most important moments in the season's trailer? Thatcher's burgundy suit, which she wore in her historic cabinet portrait.
Season 4 (1981)
Princess Diana's iconic taffeta wedding dress with its 25-foot train and 153-yard tulle veil were recreated for season 4. The costume designers kept it as similar to the original as possible. "The Emanuels, who designed the original, gave us the patterns, and then it was made for me," actress Emma Corrin, who plays Princess Diana, told British Vogue.
Season 4 (1983)
Queen Elizabeth dressed in her ceremonial uniform to ride in the Trooping of the Colour ceremony every year until 1986. While playing the monarch, Olivia Colman saddled up in the medal adorned military jacket to film the annual ceremony.
Season 4 (1986)
Princess Diana was revered for her accessible, down-to-earth style. The Crown couldn't resist teasing fans with actress Emma Corrin wearing one of her most iconic looks: Pink gingham pants and a hot pink sweater.
You can expect to see some of Princess Diana's most iconic looks in season 4.