You might not think Her Majesty has much in common with Barbara Millicent Roberts, also known as Barbie, but both have been style icons for generations and worn quite a variety of hats, both literally and figuratively. Now The Queen has been reimagined as her own doll: Lizzie.
TheToyZone have recreated seven of Her Majesty’s iconic looks through the years, ranging from her WWII uniform to her coronation gown and infamous harlequin dress.
“Here at TheToyZone, we love smooshing together pop culture icons and legendary toys,” the company said. “So we gave Barbie the ultimate career doll opportunity: Queen of England! Of course, we’ve switched her appearance out of deference to Her Majesty.”
Although there aren’t actual dolls available for purchase, perhaps one day we can hope to see some “Lizzies” for sale at the Buckingham Palace Gift Shop. Until then, let’s take a look at some of The Queen’s fashion moments from 1945 through 2016.
Mechanic Lizzie, 1945: Here, Princess Elizabeth is pictured in uniform when she became the first woman in the Royal Family to serve in the British Armed Forces. Elizabeth joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territory Service and went through an auto mechanic training course, working alongside normal Brits and experiencing freedom from palace walls for the first time. Fun fact: 1945 was also the year that the Mattel toy company was founded, although Barbie hadn’t been created just yet.
Coronation Lizzie, 1953: The Queen’s coronation took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey, and her gown was made by Norman Hartnell, the same designer who created her wedding dress. The heavily beaded, embroidered gown prominently features the national emblems of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland: the Tudor rose, the thistle, the leek, and the shamrock. The Queen also asked for symbols of other Commonwealth countries to be included, such as the maple leaf for Canada and fern for New Zealand.
Flower Power Lizzie, 1967: Malta is a special place for Her Majesty since she spent several happy years living there while the Duke of Edinburgh was stationed on the island. The Queen, who still served as Malta’s head of state in 1967 (this ended in 1974), displayed some swinging sixties style when she headed for an official visit wearing a floral Hardy Amies coat and a rather interesting flower-covered hat. The real star of the look was the Cullinan V Brooch, which features an 18.8-carat diamond cut from the largest diamond ever found.
Order of the Thistle Lizzie, 1987: If you lived through the 1980s (or watched the new series of The Crown), you might have an idea of what The Queen’s life was like during the Margaret Thatcher years. Now a grandmother, Her Majesty attended the 1987 Order of the Thistle service in Edinburgh wearing the distinctive green velvet robe and plumed hat worn by members of the Order. The biannual event is held at the Thistle Chapel at St Giles’ Cathedral and is the greatest order of chivalry in Scotland.
Royal Windsor Horse Show Lizzie, 1988: Horses are one of Her Majesty’s greatest passions, and the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show is a highlight of her calendar, having attended since the very first event in 1943. Many members of the Royal Family have participated in events such as carriage driving, show jumping, and dressage over the years, including The Queen herself. In 1988, she wore a typical equestrian outfit of a tweed hacking jacket, jodhpurs, riding boots, and one of her signature headscarves.
Royal Variety Performance Lizzie, 1999: The late 1990s were a tough time for the Royal Family, with the death of Diana, Princess of Wales still looming over the country. The Royal Variety Performance has been held since 1912 and is a televised show with musical numbers, dancers, comedians, magicians, and other acts to raise money for the Royal Variety Charity, of which The Queen is patron. Her Majesty displayed some cheer for the 1999 show when she stepped out in a sequined harlequin print number that remains one of the most colourful and loudest outfits she’s ever worn.
90th Birthday Lizzie, 2016: The Queen celebrated her 90th year on 21 April 2016, receiving warm wishes from thousands of fans lining the streets of Windsor. For the occasion, she chose a lovely spring green wool coat created by her trusted dresser, Angela Kelly, along with a matching hat topped with flowers. Unsurprisingly, she paired the outfit with her signature pearls and black Anello and Davide shoes; Her Majesty knows what she likes and sticks to it.
