Rhaenyra – Queen of the Realm
Season three of HBO’s “House of the Dragon” is its penultimate season. The show is a prequel series based on George R.R Martin book “Fire and Blood,” as well the shorter novella “The Princess and the Queen,” and “The Rogue Prince.” These stories are all set in his “A Song of Ice and Fire” world chronicling the event of a devastating civil war called “The Dance.”
The third season premiered on June 21st, 2026 with eight episodes.
Spoilers for season three
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Queen’s Landing
Rhaenyra: Emma D’Arcy
After the end of season two, Rhaenyra and Alicent Hightower have a plan that will put Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne. However Rhaenyra is uneasy as she takes her place as Queen as she comes up against schemes, deceptions, and the weight of acting ruling subjects.
This is all compounded by the fact that first before she conquers King’s Landing she is betrayed by her Queensguard and the death of her eldest son, Prince Jacaerys Velaryon.
The grief of her losing two of her sons due to this conflict is one of the major factors that push Rhaenyra into forgoing gowns and beautiful feminine garments in favor of trousers, boots and pieces that look more akin to armor and dragon riding outfits. It’s as a regetion of femininity so that her subjects will see her a the rightful ruler as she is obsessed with her reign’s legitimacy and being chosen to rule.
This obsession and her constant meeting with opposition leads her to make poor choices in governance which leads her to cruelty and becoming a tyrannical ruler by the end of the season.
Carolina McCall returns from season two to design the costumes for season three. Rhaenyra’s season three costumes stick to monochromatic tones mainly blacks, grays, silvers with some reds. They also have a very similar silhouette with very wide and structured shoulders. This was inspired by Daenerys’ costumes for the later seasons of Game Of Thrones.
Rhaenyra has about 11 costumes in season three.
This is a ranked list of five of her best looks. They were ranked by aesthetics and memorability.
List is subject to change.
5. Regal Gray Outfit
Episode three is Rhaenyra first days as Queen. Up until this point she has been a rebel leader and not a ruler with subjects that look to her for leadership. She seats the Iron Throne with a lot naiveté of what being a Queen and leader truly means.
For her first foray as Queen and meeting her subjects she opts to not wear any jewels. She instead wears a sombre yet still regal dark gray outfit. Much like many of her other costumes, this outfit is very structured with wide shoulders. The fabric is textured with a metallic weave. It also has dramatic long hanging over-sleeves to make her look majestic.
She wears this a silver chain to show gravity and of course her crown.
4. Chain Mail Riding Ensemble
At the end of season two Dowager Queen Alicent conspires with Rhaenyra so that Rhaenyra twill take King’s Landing with limited bloodshed. This involves Alicent getting her son, Aemond and his fearsome dragon away from the capital so that Rhaenyra and Daemon can fly in unopposed.
As Rhaenyra is flying into a hostile city she wears a riding outfit that is also chainmail armor. This armor has some crochet elements to give it more detail and dimension. The closures form of dragons. Layered over the chain more is dark red garment that forms her iconic structured shoulder silhouette with some intricate beaded embroidery. This garment also makes-up a cape and skirt-like tunic layer that adds some movement to the overall outfit.
The under-tunic dark is gray with long sleeves and under that layer is red layer that peeks out at the neckline.
It’s a very strong look that is also very intricate and has few hallmarks of Rhaenyra’s sense of style.
3. High Collar Outfit
In her first days as Queen, Rhaenyra sends a powerful message to the lesser lords and ladies of King’s Landing that their hoarding of food will not go unpunished anymore. She does this by hosting a feast for them and severing them a rats.
Her outfit while still masculine with its trousers and boots it’s also a more formal than some of her other season three costume as it’s less armored and austere.
It’s in her classic color palette of dark gray and dark red with a hint of metallic. It has long hanging sleeves which add elegance. Intricate beading runs down the front on either sides of the closures. The wide structured shoulder silhouette is less severe but still present, just toned down. She also has a high dramatic dark red collar.
She also ears this costume again when she an Daemon speak at the sept in High Valerian though the collar is turned down.
2. Red Gown
Rhaenyra’s first costume of season three is also the last time she wears a gown. As this is the last time Rhaenyra dresses in a feminine manner in the show it’s at least a stunning gown.
While not a formal gown, it’s still more or less a casual look for Rhaenyra, it’s beautiful nonetheless. It’s made from a gorgeous textured red fabric with long pointed sleeves and somewhat structured shoulders. Also at the shoulder are intricate beaded embroidery that looks like dragon wings. This beading is also on her belt which is been quilted to look like dragon scales.
The underskirt is also red and is pleated which was inspired by Daenerys’ Game of Thrones costumes.
This is also the outfit that Rhaenyra destroys in the episode one.
In the books, Rhaenyra is described as dressing more extravagantly. So it a little sad to see the feminine costumes cease in the show but it does make sense for the story that show is going for.
1. Armored Dragon Queen
Rhaenyra’s final costume of season three is her going into full tyrant evil queen mode. The final episode of the season opens with Rhaenyra getting word that her half-brother Aegon and his dragon are alive. This throws her legitimacy into question as the chosen ruler by the gods and prophesies for her people. She thus tries to force the High Septon to anoint her as Queen but that doesn’t happen and she has the High Septon executed. She then makes a speech which reveals how much she has become a monster.
Her final outfit of the season is full dragon inspired armor. There are numerous inspiration from around the world for the look of this costume but the look harkens to Joan of Arc.
The costume is chainmail with different consisting colored links to add dimension with metal plates. This chainmail is also used for form a coif which her crown rests.
The shoulder pieces are made to look like dragon wings. The dragon motif is carried into the silver brooch with is dragons in abstract. This abstract dragon design is repeated in her wrist bracers. Her dark red cloak is textured to also look like dragon scale.
This costume very much communicates how cruel Rhaenyra has become.
It’s a very imposing, memorable and dramatic look to end the season.
Honorable Mention: Red Riding Leather
In episode 7 there is a dragon fight where Rhaenyra learns the identity of Sheepstealer’s rider. Rhaenyra wears riding outfit that is made from red leather and looks very similar to her season 2 red leather riding outfit. This one has less embellishments and stronger shoulders. It was just a good change of pace to see her in a predominately red costume.
More on Rhaenyra’s Costumes
- Rhaenyra’s 9 Best Costumes from Season One of “House of the Dragon”
- Rhaenyra’s 5 Best Costumes from Season One of “House of the Dragon”
