The Royal Family to Mark Queen Elizabeth II's 100th Birthday with Two Days of Commemorations
King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Members of the Royal Family will honor the late Queen's centenary with a series of engagements across London on April 20th and 21st.
Queen Elizabeth II would have turned 100 years old on April 21st, 2026, and the Royal Family is marking the milestone with two days of events in London — from a fashion exhibition at Buckingham Palace to the unveiling of the design for a permanent national memorial, and a new garden in Regent's Park bearing her name.
Buckingham Palace announced the program of engagements this week, providing the most detailed picture yet of how the institution plans to honor the woman who reigned for 70 years and remains, even after her death in September 2022, central to the identity of the monarchy.
Monday, April 20th: A Century of Style
The commemorations begin the evening before the centenary itself, when King Charles and Queen Camilla will tour a new Royal Collection Trust exhibition at The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style is described as the largest and most comprehensive presentation of the late Queen's fashion ever mounted — a fitting tribute to a woman whose wardrobe was itself a form of statecraft, deployed deliberately and thoughtfully across seven decades of public life. The exhibition features over 300 items, many on public display for the first time, including her christening robe, bridesmaid dresses, wedding dress, and Coronation dress.
Their Majesties will be guided through the exhibition by Caroline de Guitaut, Surveyor of The King's Works of Art, and will meet contemporary fashion designers who have contributed pieces, including Erdem Moralıoğlu, whose work drew inspiration from the late Queen. They will also meet students from the King's Foundation's Chanel and le19M Metiers d'Art Fellowship programs — young designers in embroidery, millinery, and atelier arts who have visited the Royal Collection this year and drawn on the exhibition for their graduation portfolios.
Tuesday, April 21st: The Centenary Day
The 21st of April — what would have been the Queen's 100th birthday — is packed with engagements across London.
The Queen Elizabeth Memorial
The morning begins at the British Museum, where King Charles and Queen Camilla will be joined by Members of the Royal Family, the Prime Minister, and the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee — chaired by Lord Janvrin, the late Queen's former Private Secretary — to view the final design for the national memorial.
In the British Museum's Reading Room, the King and Queen will be accompanied by Lord Norman Foster, the memorial's designer, to view a scale model of the planned monument. They will also meet the three artists creating works for the site: Martin Jennings, Yinka Shonibare, and Karen Newman, alongside maquettes of their sculptures. Both the scale model and the maquettes will remain on public display at the British Museum following the visit.
The location of the memorial itself has not been specified in today's announcement, but the involvement of Lord Foster — one of Britain's most celebrated architects — signals an ambition commensurate with the Queen's legacy.
The Queen Elizabeth II Garden, Regent's Park
While the King and Queen are at the British Museum, the Princess Royal — Princess Anne — will be across London in Regent's Park, officially opening The Queen Elizabeth II Garden: a new two-acre space created as a tranquil, fully accessible place for reflection in the heart of the capital.
On arrival, Her Royal Highness will be welcomed by Dr Linda Yueh, Chair of The Royal Parks, before touring the garden with its design team. At the Water Tower, blacksmith and King's Foundation alumnus Ian Thackray will explain the significance of the site's water feature, before the Princess is presented with a gilded metal flower crafted specially for the occasion. Princess Anne will also unveil a plaque to mark the official opening, joined by the Mayor of London and the Heritage Minister.
The garden, created by The Royal Parks in collaboration with HTA Design, is planted with species that held particular significance to the late Queen, and features a wildlife-supporting circular pond and a viewing platform with panoramic views across Regent's Park. Designed with climate-resilient planting, it is projected to achieve a 184% net gain in biodiversity. The garden opens to the general public on April 27th.
A Reception at Buckingham Palace
The day concludes at Buckingham Palace, where the King and Queen will host a reception in the Marble Hall to celebrate the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II. Guests will include representatives from a wide range of the late Queen's patronages, among them Cancer Research UK, the British Red Cross Society, the Jockey Club, the Royal Kennel Club, and the Army Benevolent Fund — organizations that reflect the extraordinary breadth of her public commitments over seven decades.
In a particularly touching element of the afternoon, the King and Queen will be joined by centenarians who share the late Queen's birthday — men and women also celebrating their 100th birthdays on April 21st. As the birthday cake is served, King Charles will present each of them with centenary cards in person, a gesture that echoes the tradition the Queen herself maintained throughout her reign of sending cards to those reaching their hundredth year.
The Queen Elizabeth II Garden in Regent's Park opens to the public on Monday, April 27th, 2026. The Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style *exhibition at The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace is open now.
