First Look: Pepa London’s New Collab With Historic Royal Palaces

A very royal collaboration is in the works. Childrenswear label Pepa London has teamed up with Historic Royal Palaces on a brand new line of dainty dresses, separates, rompers and bonnets – all inspired by the ceremonial clothing worn by children of the British royal family over the last few hundred years. Here’s everything you need to know about the collab, plus how to get your hands on it.

Pepa London Releases Capsule With Historic Royal Palaces

Fans of the royal family will be very familiar with Pepa London, the whimsical children’s clothing label that has dressed many of its children – including Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who wore bespoke page boy and flower girl outfits at the wedding of Pippa Middleton in 2017. And now, it seems the brand is ready to deepen its royal ties, having announced a brand new collection created in collaboration with Historic Royal Palaces.

Inspired by royal childhoods and the sartorial traditions of British ceremonial dress, the Pepa London x Historic Royal Palaces capsule came to be when brand founder and Creative Director Pepa González paid a visit to the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Hampton Court Palace. Cared for by Historic Royal Palaces, the collection consists of over 10,000 items dating from the 16th century to today – but it was the exhibit in particular that drew González’s attention.

The designer was quickly enamoured with a pair of matching Liberty print floral cotton dresses once worn by Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret in the 1930s. ‘To see these dresses up close, to witness the craftsmanship and sentimental value stitched into their seams, was a privilege,’ said González. The dresses (which you can now see in person at Kensington Palace’s Dress Codes exhibition) offered the spark of inspiration for this new capsule. ‘We wanted to take those memories of gardens, giggles, and childhood rituals and reimagine them through our own lens of British elegance and craftsmanship.’

The resulting collection – which was shot in a campaign on the grounds of Hampton Court Palace – is described as something that ‘pays tribute to the regal splendour of palace life.’ Botanical prints offer a nod to the original dresses worn by the young princesses, while floral embroidery across gowns and shirts take inspiration from the sprawling palace gardens themselves. Soft organza detailing, meanwhile, references the formal wear found in royal portraiture.

A major component within the capsule comes in the form of Royal Mariner, a nautical line rooted in the tradition of children’s sailor suits – another royal trend, this time made popular by Queen Victoria’s children. Here, the collection has been elevated with crisp structured cottons, gold piping and sharp tailoring; newer details that give each piece a modern edge.

There are also familiar Pepa London staples mixed amongst the newness. The brand’s signature hand smocking, carried out by skilled artisans in family-run ateliers, runs prominently throughout the collection.

Proceeds from the collection will also go back to Historic Royal Palaces, supporting its work caring for six of the UK’s royal landmarks – the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Banqueting House, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle and Gardens – as well as the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection.

How To Shop The Collection

The Pepa London x Historic Royal Palaces capsule collection will be available this July in stores and online. You can sign up to be the first to pre-order the collab at pepalondon.com

A dedicated pop-up space celebrating the launch of the collection will also open at Harrods in Knightsbridge. harrods.com