A Season of Sparkle: Edwardian Elegance Arrives in Edinburgh
TRAVELWHAT'S ON
This spring, Edinburgh steps back into an age of tiaras, garden parties and glittering social calendars as The Edwardians: Age of Elegance opens at The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse. Running from 24 April to 6 December 2026, the exhibition promises an intimate, opulent portrait of one of Britain’s most stylish eras, and the royal couples who defined it.
At its heart is a world of beauty and display shaped by two glamorous pairings, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, followed by their son King George V and his formidable consort, Queen Mary. Drawing on more than 150 objects from the Royal Collection, the exhibition traces how these couples lived, travelled and collected during a period that balanced dazzling luxury with rapid social and technological change.
Among the highlights is a newly revealed, never-before-exhibited portrait of Queen Mary, shown alongside a full-length likeness of Queen Alexandra. Together, the portraits set the tone for an era obsessed with fashion and presentation. Nearby, a miniature sleigh carved from rock crystal, just 10 centimetres tall, adds a note of whimsy. Created by the Russia-based goldsmith Robert Colquhon and collected by Edward and Alexandra, it exemplifies the Edwardian passion for exquisitely crafted objects displayed in abundance.
The exhibition evokes the richly layered interiors of Marlborough House and Sandringham, where decorative excess was the height of taste. Cabinets brim with objets d’art, surfaces are crowded with photographs, and treasures are gathered from across Europe. Fabergé features prominently, its rise in Britain fuelled by Alexandra’s family ties to the Russian imperial court. On display are 21 pieces, including a jewelled picture frame, a cigarette case gifted to Edward VII by his mistress Mrs Keppel, and charming miniature figures of animals from the Sandringham estate.
Artistic patronage was central to Edwardian identity. Visitors will encounter works by celebrated names such as Edward Burne-Jones, whose dreamlike study inspired by Sleeping Beauty captivated Queen Alexandra, and photographs by Alice Hughes, whose soft-focus portraits epitomised modern femininity. The exhibition also reflects the era’s enthusiasm for emerging movements like Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts, as well as the growing status of photography as an art form.
Scotland itself plays a starring role. Both royal couples had deep connections to the country. Edward VII studied at the University of Edinburgh, while George and Mary modernised Holyroodhouse for royal entertaining and hosted its first Edwardian garden party in 1911. A painting by Laurits Tuxen of a Buckingham Palace garden party captures the joyful sociability that defined their reign.
Yet this is not a story of glamour alone. As the exhibition unfolds, the mood subtly shifts. The Edwardians were avid travellers, journeying further than any royals before them. Gifts from across the empire, including a richly embroidered silk hanging presented to Queen Mary during her 1901 to 1902 tour of Australia, speak to the global reach of the monarchy. The final rooms confront the sobering impact of the First World War, when splendour gave way to duty. Portraits of King George V and works commemorating the fallen reflect a more restrained, solemn monarchy shaped by sacrifice and loss.
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance offers more than a history lesson. It is an immersive escape into a world of refinement, ambition and transformation. Lavish yet thoughtful, it captures the moment when royal glamour reached its zenith, just before the modern world irrevocably changed.
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance
The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse
24 April – 6 December 2026