The dress worn by Queen Elizabeth’s stunt double to parachute into the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games has gone on display for the first time alongside the version worn by the monarch herself.
The dress worn by Queen Elizabeth for the James Bond skydiving stunt at the London 2012 Olympic Games has gone on display for the first time.
The late monarch took part in a skit alongside 007 Daniel Craig which seemingly ended with her parachuting into the London Stadium during the opening ceremony now the dress worn by the stunt double for the parachute jump is being shown to the public in a new exhibition alongside the version seen on the Queen herself.
The peach-coloured cocktail dress – designed by the Queen’s long-time dresser Angela Kelly – features sown-in Victorian-style bloomers and a zip at the back to accommodate the parachute.
After the stunt double soared into the stadium, Queen Elizabeth was later seen taking her seat wearing an almost identical version of the gown.
Both version have gone on display as part of the Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition at the King’s Gallery in Buckingham Palace in London which opened on Friday (10.04.26).
The exhibition is being held to mark the year the Queen – who died in September 2022 at the age of 96 – would have celebrated her 100th birthday.
The show has been described as the “largest and most comprehensive” collection of the late monarch’s clothing ever to be seen by the public featuring more than 200 items of clothing including the wedding dress – designed by Norman Hartnell – which she wore to marry Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947 as well as the gown she wore for her Coronation in 1953.
The collection also includes clothing, hats, shoes, accessories and jewellery alongside design sketches and fabric samples as well as correspondence which lifts the lid on the process of dressing the monarch.
It features pieces from Elizabeth’s childhood and early years as well as throughout her reign from state occasions to items she wore when she was off duty such as riding jackets, tartan skirts and headscarves.
Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut said: “Only now, as the late Queen’s fashion archive comes under the care of Royal Collection Trust, can we tell the story of a lifetime of thoughtful style choices – from her hands-on role and understanding of the soft power behind her clothing, to the exceptional craftsmanship behind each garment.
“In the year that she would have turned 100 years old, this exhibition will be a celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s uniquely British style and her enduring fashion legacy.”
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style run at the King’s Gallery from April 10 until autumn 2026.
Queen Elizabeth’s ‘skydiving’ James Bond dress goes on display
