A Regal Tribute in Fine Bone China Marks the Queen Elizabeth II Centenary

A new collection of official chinaware and homeware has been released to mark the centenary year of the birth of Queen Elizabeth II in 2026. Produced by Royal Collection Trust, a department of the Royal Household, the range is now available both online and in Royal Collection Trust shops, forming part of the wider programme of centenary celebrations taking place across the year.

The Queen Elizabeth II Centenary collection draws inspiration from some of the most recognisable garments worn by the late monarch during her reign. Many of these historic pieces now form part of the Royal Collection and feature in Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, the major exhibition now on display at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. Around 200 items of clothing, accessories and archival material are presented, offering visitors a closer look at the Queen’s distinctive approach to dress across decades of public life.

Designers behind the new range have looked closely at the decorative details found within the Queen’s wardrobe. Embroidery, fabric patterns and ceremonial symbolism have all informed the collection, which centres on floral emblems representing the nations of the United Kingdom. Roses, shamrocks, thistles and daffodils appear throughout the designs, echoing motifs incorporated into the Coronation dress created by Norman Hartnell for the young Queen in 1953. Hartnell’s design also featured leeks, completing a unified celebration of national identity.

Fine bone china forms the heart of the collection. Everyday pieces such as mugs and side plates reinterpret the Coronation motifs and are available in four colourways. Shades of sky blue, foxglove pink, daffodil yellow and leaf green reference the coloured embroidery chosen for the Coronation gown. When Hartnell presented several design options ahead of the ceremony, the Queen selected a preferred version but asked that coloured decoration replace the original silver and gold scheme, a decision that has influenced the palette of the centenary range.

Collectors have also been considered, with teacups and saucers produced alongside a decorative pillbox. Another design looks back to the Queen’s wedding dress, created by Hartnell in 1947 when she married Prince Philip. The ivory silk gown, richly embroidered with crystals and seed pearls arranged in wheatsheaf patterns, inspires a pink fine bone china tankard that repeats the historic motif.

All official Royal Collection Trust chinaware continues Britain’s long tradition of ceramics production. Each piece is cast, fired and hand decorated in Stoke on Trent using techniques that have defined the industry for more than two centuries. The finished items are detailed with 22 carat gold, reinforcing their status as commemorative keepsakes as well as functional objects.

Beyond chinaware, the collection extends to a series of complementary homeware items. Embossed teaspoons, a tea towel and a velvet tree decoration feature the same symbolic floral pattern found across the range. The E II R cypher, taken from the late Queen’s Robe of State worn at her Coronation, appears prominently throughout the designs and forms the centrepiece of a limited edition commemorative coin.

Food and drink items complete the offering. Tea caddies filled with a specially blended Earl Grey tea sit alongside biscuit tins containing Scottish shortbread. The reusable tins are manufactured in London using solar power, reflecting a contemporary approach to production within a historically inspired collection.

Kaneesha Bose, Head of Central Retail at Royal Collection Trust, said the products were shaped by the extraordinary craftsmanship behind the Queen’s wardrobe. She described the fashion archive as one of the most significant surviving collections of twentieth century British royal fashion, adding that the care and skill seen in those garments had inspired everything from collectible pieces to practical items intended for daily use.

The centenary range is available now via royalcollectionshop.co.uk and at Royal Collection Trust shops in London, Edinburgh and Windsor. Income generated through admissions and retail sales supports the conservation of the Royal Collection and helps Royal Collection Trust continue to share it with audiences in the United Kingdom and around the world.

The information in this article was kindly provided by Royal Collection Trust.
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