At the heart of the new Pepa London for Historic Royal Palaces collection lies a story of heritage, craftsmanship, and the quiet elegance of royal childhood, all brought to life through one of Britain’s most extraordinary archives.

This limited-edition capsule was born from access to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, a nationally designated collection cared for by Historic Royal Palaces at Hampton Court Palace. With nearly 10,000 garments spanning more than four hundred years of royal history, from grand state robes to delicately embroidered nursery dresses, the collection is a treasure trove of inspiration.

Among the most touching discoveries were two matching Liberty print floral dresses, worn by the then Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, and her sister Princess Margaret in the 1930s. These garments, timeless in their detail and sentimental in their symbolism, became central to the creative direction of our capsule. As part of the partnership, we were granted access to view these special pieces in the archive — a rare and humbling privilege. Their spirit of sisterhood, softness, and childhood wonder has been thoughtfully reinterpreted in pieces designed to be cherished today and remembered tomorrow.

These original dresses are currently on public display as part of the Dress Codes exhibition at Kensington Palace, open until 30 November 2025. Visitors can see them in person alongside the Pepa London for Historic Royal Palaces display in the giftshop, marking a beautiful connection between past and present.

To share the deeper meaning behind the collection, we’ve collaborated with Matthew Storey, collections curator at Historic Royal Palaces, who offers rare insight into the garments that shaped our designs. His perspective sheds light not only on royal fashion history but on how these childhood pieces continue to influence ideas of beauty, tradition, and belonging.

Go behind the scenes with Historic Royal Palaces curator, Matthew Storey and discover the royal archive that shaped our capsule collection.