A color splash from Stewart Parvin and Rachel Trevor-Morgan kicks off this year's Ascot outfit parade. I confess, I was a little afraid at first peek that Her Maj might have repeated her bummer of an Ascot Day 1 brooch pick from last year - the Frosted Sunflower Brooch - but she went with a newer favorite in the golden family instead: the Singapore Peranakan Diamond Jubilee Brooch. Lime green, I suppose, isn't the easiest color to coordinate with.
While my vigil for the return of the Williamson Diamond Brooch continues, The Duchess of Cornwall kindly stepped in to fulfill my need for a pink jewel by wearing her pink topaz choker - a.k.a., one of my favorite Cams jewels. And Chaz even chipped in with a pink tie! A+ Ascot coordination.
Today's garden party opened with a minute of silence for the victims of the terrible Manchester attack. There was plenty of disagreement on social media with the decision to hold the event, but the show - as it always must - went on, honoring some 8,000 people for service to their communities. (With a crowd this size, many of whom would have traveled in advance for the occasion, I suppose the logistics alone could have prompted the decision.)
Royal Family
Bright as the sun, The Queen recreated Day 1 of Ascot 2016, repeating both her Stewart Parvin/Rachel Trevor-Morgan ensemble and the golden brooch it went with.
Princess Eugenie, meanwhile, chipped in with a more youthful take on The Queen's memorable orange and blue outfit from Day 3 of Ascot 2016. Not a bad idea, but not a good execution.
If The Duchess of Cornwall hasn't worn this to Ascot yet, I'm sure she will at some point; it seems to be one of her favorites recently. Though she has used this outfit with brooches in the past, she kept it simple with a pearl choker today.
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended a gala dinner in Florence, Italy, where The Prince was presented with the Renaissance Man of the Year Award. The couple are on an official visit to the country.
Serious diamond alert! Camilla's Pear Drop Diamond Demi-Parure made another appearance tonight, with a red Anna Valentine dress and a bracelet or watch which is new to me.
I'm surprised a gown that's not technically full length got the full necklace treatment, only because Cams has proven to be quite fond of using the Pear Drop Diamond Earrings with other things, like her collection of pearl chokers. Surprised but delighted, obviously. Sparkling diamonds and a colorful dress are all we need here.
The Duchess of Cornwall wears The Queen Mother's Rock Crystal Brooch, 2012 UK in Sweden via CC BY-ND 2.0
The Duchess of Cornwall is fond of this delicate oval brooch featuring a rock crystal disk with a diamond center and a diamond frame. Small details in black on the sides and center are likely onyx (or possibly enamel). The rock crystal has a frosted, translucent appearance and appears to be etched.
The Queen Mother, then The Duchess of York, wears the brooch on her hat, 1927 State Library of Queensland, via Wikimedia Commons
Although the brooch was largely unknown until The Duchess started wearing it, it has been in the royal family for at least 90 years. It was part of the collection of the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who fashionably perched it on her hats in the 1920s and 1930s. The then-Duchess of York and her husband were regular patrons of Cartier, who made multiple Art Deco brooches using the combination of crystal, diamond, and onyx; Cartier thus seems a likely candidate for creator of this brooch.
The Rock Crystal Brooch would have passed to The Queen in 2002, who included it among the many other pieces from The Queen Mother’s collection she has loaned to The Duchess of Cornwall. Camilla wears it regularly, and its appearance can vary from highly visible (on a dark outfit) to practically invisible (on a light outfit), thanks to the translucent crystal revealing the color of the fabric behind.
Kicking off on a bright note, the outfit is a delight but the brooch is not the best (this is the second time we've seen it in a month, which is more than enough for me). I preferred this cerise Stewart Parvin coat with the Diamond and Rose Gold Brooch.
Keeping the brightness going, this Angela Kelly outfit wasn't just a spot of sunshine in a sea of dark suits, it was the perfect background for a wonderful brooch surprise: the Australian Wattle! The brooch hasn't been seen in action since 2014. Sooooo many diamonds. Watch how it glints in this video, towards the end. You can't even see the entire thing, and yet it's like a strobe light on her shoulder. Yum.
Her favorite Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp accompanied her purple suit for the Commonwealth service. Later, when she and The Prince of Wales attended the Commonwealth Secretary's reception, the suit was the same and the jewels were swapped out for her set of pansy brooches, always a favorite with this outfit.
Clarence House
No complaints about the purple theme here, you know. (The Queen is usually the one that attends this reception, but Charles and Camilla took her place this year.)
After a year of white gowns and white jewels, The Duchess of Cornwall remembered that she has dresses in luscious colors and gems to match! What a treat! This diamond and emerald necklace is assumed to be among the jewels that she picked up on one profitable trip to Saudi Arabia, when her year end gift list included one parure each of rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. (We have not covered these hefty baubles on this blog - yet! - though they have been mentioned on the other blog.) This emerald set also includes a pair of earrings and a bracelet, but she's chosen to use the earrings from her Pear Drop Diamond Demi-Parure here. I'm thrilled to see this necklace in action again, and even more thrilled that color has returned to her evening gems. More, please!
The Queen hosted the annual Diplomatic Reception for ambassadors at Buckingham Palace. The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke of Cambridge, and The Duchess of Cambridge were also present.
Okay, let's address the best thing first: THIS PHOTO. This is RARE, folks. Pictures from the Diplomatic Reception are often not published at all; a proper group shot like this is a first. I'd like to send a fruit basket to the person that convinced them to do it, but instead I shall just express my enthusiasm in ALL CAPS. WOW.
The Duchess of Cornwall: It's business as usual for Camilla. This is exactly what she wore to the Colombian state banquet and almost completely what she wore to the State Opening of Parliament before that, dress and all. So, all her tiara appearances this year are essentially the same.
The Duchess of Cambridge: Kate is sporting the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara for the second time. She's also wearing the Diamond Pendant Earrings, her most recent vault loan (these go better with a tiara than her usual longer diamond earrings, I think), and is repeating the red Jenny Packham gown she wore to the Chinese state banquet.
The Gentlemen: This is one of the most formal events of the year, so the royal men wear knee breeches with the actual Garter from the Order of the Garter just below the knee. It's rare that we get to see this; this event is one of the last consistent examples of the Garter in use, but again, we don't always get to see inside.
Ahhhhh, yes, those are some diamonds. This is the second time we've seen her Pear Drop Diamond Demi-Parure in full this year, and we also spotted the earrings at the recent state banquet. It never fails to dazzle in its simplicity, does it?
Funnily enough, the last time we saw this necklace - at the British Asian Trust Gala - we also saw this dress, pretty much, just in navy and black. As Kate stocks up on her Preen dresses, so Camilla stocks up on her lacy gowns, I guess. (This one must be by Bruce Oldfield too.)
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by other members of the
Royal Family, attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the
Cenotaph, London. The service honors those that have died in armed
conflicts.
Sgt Ross Tilly/UK MoD Crown Copyright
The Queen kept things simple at today's service, holding her traditional cluster of poppies with her favorite bow brooch.
Interestingly, The Duchess of Cambridge has been loaned another piece from The Queen's jewel vault: the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings. These earrings were created using pearls given to Princess Elizabeth as a wedding gift. Much like the Silver Jubilee earrings recently worn by Kate, this pair has been loaned to Sophie in the past. They've also been worn fairly recently worn by The Queen herself, who chose them for last year's Festival of Remembrance.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by other members of
the Royal Family, attended the Royal British Legion Festival of
Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
An interesting brooch choice from The Queen tonight: the Bronte Porcelain Brooch, which has seen one appearance a year since its 2014 debut. It seems a bit of a busy brooch for anchoring a poppy, but then most do (apart from the bow brooches, of course, which are her most popular pick for the job).
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall returned from their tour of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain just in time to join the large group of royal family members also present for the Festival. Camilla wore her favorite pearl choker these days, the Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp, as well as a large pearl bracelet she's worn before.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh welcomed the President of the Republic of Colombia and Mrs. Santos at the beginning of the President's State Visit to the United Kingdom.
This is one of those times when I would love to be privy to the reasons behind a particular brooch selection, because rubies - the Ruby and Gold Flower Brooch, which has no known connection to these guests - are the last thing I would have paired with this outfit. They're not really that noticeable, I guess.
ITN screencap
Usually, The Queen just takes off her coat once inside with her guests (and, later, inspecting the state banquet setup), but by the time they reviewed the special Royal Collection exhibit with their Colombian guests, she had a total outfit change. She went ahead and leaned into the ruby theme with the Grima Ruby Brooch.
This Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch is one we haven't had a chance to cover here yet (it comes from Queen Alexandra), but it's a perfect match for her deep green outfit. A winner, and paired with her favorite pearl pendant earrings and her usual assortment of bracelets. She did receive a pair of emerald earrings when she and The Prince of Wales visited Colombia a couple years ago, but these were on display with the rest of exhibits, so sadly weren't worn.
The Queen, along with other members of the Royal Family, gave a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in the President's honor.
We haven't seen a tiara event in a while, and I can't tell you how delighted I am that it's one of the colored stone options instead of one of the usual favorites! Her Maj's been dipping into those more often in the past couple years (she wore this one just last year for the China state banquet), and I love the variety. Her sapphire parure also picks up very nicely on the blue in the Order of Boyaca from Colombia, so that's well played.
(Many have also asked which orders the men are wearing. The Duke of Edinburgh also has the Order of Boyaca, I would imagine in a lower grade without the grand collar. The President has been given the Order of the Bath, which is often given to presidents when orders are exchanged.)
Collar and Star of the Order of Boyaca
Evening Watch
Besides, we've always got Camilla to hold down the white stone fort. Is it just me, or all these Greville Tiara + White Dress + Pearl Choker appearances starting to blend together?
British Monarchy screencaps
With the exception of the earrings, this is the same dress and jewels we saw at this year's State Opening of Parliament, which is the same as the State Opening the year before that. I mean, it suits her well, but I do like to complain.
UPDATE: We now have video of The Queen's speech - observe her sparkly dress!
And with video comes a glimpse at some of the other royal ladies in attendance. (There are also additional tiaras in the video above worn by others, and maybe a glimpse of Princess Michael of Kent, but it's hard to tell.)
British Monarchy screencap
Princess Alexandra of Kent wore the Ogilvy Tiara in its pearl setting. She wears the sash of the Order of the Garter.
British Monarchy screencaps
I wish we had a better look at The Duchess of Gloucester, in the red dress, because she wore the Iveagh Tiara and we don't get to see that in use often. She's wearing the sash of the Royal Victorian Order.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, visited Poundbury, The Prince of Wales' urban development.
If you're unveiling a statue of The Queen Mother - which she was, at Queen Mother Square - then you wear one of The Queen Mother's brooches. Done and done. She also visited a supermarket, because sometimes you have to throw the caption writers a bone.
The Duchess of Cornwall sported one of her signature pearl chokers and had her own photo op later in the day, when she pulled a pint of "The Duchess" beer while opening an inn named The Duchess Of Cornwall.
The Duchess of Cornwall wearing her Orange Stone and Diamond Brooch
On the second day of Royal Ascot 2007, The Duchess of Cornwall arrived to the races wearing a lovely embellished cream coat and dress. Her hat was as big as ever, but the real showstopping accessory of the day was the massive brooch pinned on her shoulder. This elegant brooch is centered around a large oval stone of a deep orange color, surrounded by diamond scrolls and dotted with single diamonds.
This, so far, has been the brooch's only known appearance, and details are nonexistent. The type of orange stone is unconfirmed; popular guesses include citrine or maybe a vibrant cairngorm (a wealth of other guesses are represented in the comments below, as well). Provenance is also unconfirmed, but given that a large percentage of Camilla's loaned jewels originated with the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother - combined with the impressive size and antique look of the piece - it may be another previously unknown piece from the late queen consort's stash. For now, I'd just like to see it worn again.
It ends on a high note for The Queen, too: after needing to put down one of her horses following an accident earlier in the week, she had a winner today! Her horse Dartmouth won the Hardwicke Stakes.
Her outfit today is a repeat from her arrival in Germany last year, with a hat by Angela Kelly and a coat and dress by Peter Enrione. Enrione, 74 and known to The Queen as "Mr. Peter", has been Her Maj's tailor since the 1980s and still works up her outfits on his pre-war sewing machine.
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are really into Royal Ascot this year - which, obviously, I love - and they were present to watch another of their horses race today. This is really one of the best hats in Camilla's collection, don't you think? Very classic, very sharp.
From a brooch perspective: We're halfway through the year and we haven't had that many brooch surprises, so I'm doubly glad that Ascot gave us something new. The Cartier Diamond Rose Clip Brooch is one of the prettiest brooches she's debuted in recent years, and it will stand as my highlight from Ascot 2016.
From an outfit perspective: We're not going to forget that orange and blue number anytime soon, are we?! I have to give it to Angela Kelly on Day 2 also, I like that budding branch embellishment more every time I look at it.
What are your highlights from this year?
Photos: More4 screencaps and via Getty Images as indicated
Those of you that had the Centenary Rose Brooch in our Ascot Brooch Stakes, come on down! The G. Collins & Sons Brooch commissioned by The Queen for her mother's 100th birthday was nicely set off by Her Maj's coral Angela Kelly outfit and feathery comb over hat. We haven't seen it in use since 2013, so that puts a check in the reappearance category on my Ascot wish list - even if it wasn't exactly the gem I was hoping would fulfill that spot. (Hits a little too far on the twee side for me, I'm afraid.)
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall returned to Ascot on Day 4, which is a treat; Days 1 and 2 are often the extent of their attendance. They actually had their first runner at Ascot today, but the horse didn't place.
The Queen honored Ascot Races with her presence today.
Okay, Your Maj, point taken: yesterday's somewhat disappointing brooch selection was just clearing the way for something NEW today! A "Cartier diamond flower clip," per the palace, worn with a cyclamen pink Stewart Parvin coat and an Angela Kelly hat. More in the brooch link below.
The Duchess of Cambridge and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark at Day 2 are already up at the other blog, with more fashions from the second day to come over there on Friday!
So...it's Rachel Trevor Morgan on hat duty and Stewart Parvin on outfit duty today...and the Frosted Sunflower on brooch duty. The Frosted Sunflower, on Day 1 of Ascot. Am I being punished for something?
The Duchess of Cornwall can heal all wounds with her pink topaz super powers. She's pretty in pink today, with her Philip Treacy hat and Bruce Oldfield coat (look how far up her arm the buttons go, interesting detail). Even The Prince of Wales has added a shot of pink to his ensemble. Love. Five Strand Pearl Choker with Pink Topaz Clasp Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings
P.S.: Stay tuned to the other blog for fashion highlights from the rest of the Ascot guests.
Well, that facial expression pretty much says it all. The procession of stately Garter Knights and Ladies in all their plumed finery that I look forward to each year was nixed due to rain in Windsor. The procession and the carriages were swapped for cars and hardly a glimpse at much else.
I also look forward to Garter Day for some serious earring power from The Queen and, technically, she delivers here with the Coronation Earrings. But once again I have disappointed myself by getting my hopes up for sapphires or rubies (since we see so many white jewels all the rest of the time, you know?). Anyway, the Coronation Earrings were last seen at the Garter Service in 2004, by my flashback count.
The Garter spouses picked up some of the slack in the absence of a fancy procession of Garter robes. I would have appreciated a brooch on The Duchess of Cornwall (because apparently I'm in the mood to gripe), but the Anna Valentine coat she wore to the Cambridge wedding in 2011 is gorgeous as ever. She wore her Four Strand Pearl Choker with Small Diamond Clasp and her Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings.
I loved The Countess of Wessex's Alexander McQueen floral dress when she wore it at the Chelsea Flower Show, and I love it here too. Many said they wished for more of a shrug-style jacket last time around, and she is very promptly modeling that look for you. (I sort of prefer the slightly longer jacket? Basically these little shrugs always look to me like someone got trapped while pulling off a shirt.)
And then there was Kate! Not only was she a much-needed bright spot on a gray day with her repeated red Catherine Walker coat and red Lock & Co. hat, she was also the surprise winner in the jewel category.
These jewels are in her personal collection, so they aren't tracked on this blog, but they're very much worth noting: the diamond bracelet she received as a wedding present (assumed by many to have been a gift from Charles), her Mappin & Webb Empress pendant necklace, and - most notable of all - the return of her bespoke diamond wedding earrings from Robinson & Pelham. This is the first time we've seen these earrings in public since her wedding day. Oh, I reallllly like these used as day earrings. More of that, please!
