I don't really keep track of Her Maj's outfits, but even I can't help but notice this is the second appearance for this outfit in a month! And each time, it makes a wonderful canvas for an impressive diamond brooch.
The Queen, Patron, visited the Royal Air Force Club on Piccadilly, London, to mark its centenary year.
Royal Family
Her Maj is fully back in action after her Balmoral break, huzzah. The Flame Lily Brooch is back in action for the first time in over a year, double huzzah.
The RAF Club commissioned a new portrait for their 100th anniversary. Details from the Royal Family: "Started in February 2018 and set in the White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle, the portrait was painted by Benjamin Sullivan – who won the BP Portrait Award in 2017. The portrait includes a number of RAF elements: in the background is a Spitfire – ‘S’ for ‘Strike’ - from 253 Squadron from which the artist's grandfather, F/Lt JM Sullivan, flew over Albania during WW2. The image on the right is a portion of ‘Hurricanes in Flight‘ (1944), by Eric Ravilous, painted as part of his work for the War Artists’ Advisory Committee. Ravilous lived and worked near Benjamin Sullivan, and in the 1930’s, as a member of the Great Bardfield Artists, whose body of work is now housed at the Fry Art Gallery in Saffron Walden."
The Queen, accompanied by The Prince of Wales, traveled to the Palace of Westminster to open the
Session of Parliament.
As promised, this year's State Opening of Parliament was a "dressed down" version, thanks to the speedy schedule. Business as usual meant that those of us hoping The Queen's jewels might reflect a more special occasion were disappointed - not that one could ever be too terribly disappointed with an 18.8 carat diamond, of course, but she stuck with her usual day pearls and earrings.
What was not business as usual: The Prince of Wales stood in for The Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Philip was hospitalized Tuesday night for an infection, according to a Buckingham Palace spokesperson: "The Duke of Edinburgh was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London last night, as a precautionary measure, for treatment of an infection arising from a pre-existing condition. Prince Philip is in good spirits and is disappointed to be missing the State Opening of Parliament and Royal Ascot. The Prince of Wales will accompany The Queen to the State Opening. Her Majesty is being kept informed and will attend Royal Ascot as planned this afternoon."
And so The Queen carried on, sporting a delphinium blue coat with a blue and yellow floral silk dress and matching hat adorned with flowers by Angela Kelly. An outfit which, many have noted, sorta kinda dresses her up like...the European flag. Because if you're gonna make The Queen schlep down to London on an Ascot day, you're gonna get trolled.
I watched The Queen's Speech on 2x speed, which is exactly how I imagine
it went in Her Maj's head. She had to get to Ascot, and she had to make
it in time for an outfit and brooch change (people bet on those hats,
you know, it just won't do to be tipping them off early!), so speed.it.up.
The Queen honored Ascot Races with her presence today.
Recruiting The Duchess of Cornwall to help continue the day's yellow and blue theme, The Queen wore another ensemble designed by Stewart Parvin and Rachel Trevor-Morgan. She swapped in the Flame Lily Brooch for an extra bit of diamond sparkle.
The Duchess of Cornwall repeated her outfit from Princess Charlotte's christening as she continued to display her resplendent collection of pearl chokers. The Duchess of Gloucester wasn't slouching on the jewel front either; check out her sneaky use of diamond and ruby clip brooches at the neckline. Elegantly piled on, just how I like it.
Also today, The Queen received His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, His Grace Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Church, and Dean of Windsor The Right Reverend David Connor for private audience at Windsor Castle.
The Queen receives His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark, at Windsor Castle. pic.twitter.com/KbnxotNgdY
The internet does get a kick out of spotting Her Maj behind the wheel, and she's here to deliver. She's also delivering some serious brooch action - albeit partially obscured - in the form of what looks to be the Flame Lily Brooch.
The Queen, accompanied by other members of the Royal Family, hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace celebrating the work and patronages of Princess Alexandra of Kent in her 80th year.
Two matching cousins in their tasteful suits, pearls, and diamond floral brooches, what's not to love? The Queen wore her lovely Flame Lily Brooch and Princess Alexandra wore her six petal diamond flower brooch. (Her Maj also has one like this, of course; it's a common design.) Special shout-out to The Countess of Wessex, while we're at it, because that is an excellent red dress.
The Queen hosted a reception for representatives from Parliament on the occasion of her 90th birthday, where Humble Addresses from the House of Commons and the House of Lords were presented to Her Majesty.
So much talk of politicians - who said what, who wasn't there - but we're here to talk about Her Maj and her fabulous brooch selection. Two fabulous brooch selections for the day, in fact. Prince Albert's Sapphire was also her choice when she attended a cabinet meeting during the Diamond Jubilee year.
This is the first garden party of the year for The Queen (Princess Alexandra hosted the actual first one over the weekend), and this is the perfect garden party ensemble. I love this outfit, and it's a nice background for the Flame Lily Brooch.
(Funnily enough, this was apparently just a day to get caught on camera saying the truth of what's behind the diplomatic front. The Queen was heard to remark on the rudeness of the Chinese officials at last year's state visit.)
The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of York, The Countess of Wessex, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Princess Alexandra of Kent were also present. The Countess of Wessex wore Emilia Wickstead, The Duchess of Gloucester wore an intriguing set of jewels, and Princess Alexandra wore a favorite brooch not unlike The Queen's own Six Petal Diamond Flower Brooch.
The Queen received the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, at Buckingham Palace during his visit to the United Kingdom. Her Majesty hosted a luncheon for the Prime Minister, after which they viewed a selection of items from the Royal Collection with ties to India.
We're back to the brooch guessing game. My money's on the Women of Hampshire Brooch, do you concur? (Wonderfully interesting jewelry on our guest here, too. This is the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan, Gulnara Iskakova, who was among those presenting their credentials to The Queen today.)
Everything about this is excellent. Dame Maggie Smith: Excellent, in every way. The Flame Lily Brooch: Excellent. A celebrity getting an award so that we can see the video of the investiture and thus actually see said brooch: Excellent. Her Maj's trusty handbag, perched on the chair behind her as though it requires its own throne: Excellent, and hilarious.
The Queen received the Scottish First Minister and the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament for audiences at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. She also held an investiture.
For more: click the link in the tweet, or here for Zimbio.
Any day with the Flame Lily is a good day in my book! Loveliness all over here, with that pretty pink as a background for the delicate diamonds.
Buckingham Palace announced the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will take a one day trip to Rome in April of this year, including an audience with Pope Francis. Her last visit to Vatican City came in October 2000, during a state visit to Italy, when she and the Duke visited Pope John Paul II.
According to reports about the upcoming visit, it will be an informal one; the Queen is not expected to wear black or a mantilla/veil. Past visits to Vatican City were even more formal than the appearance in 2000, and you can look for those in upcoming flashbacks!
In current events... The Queen and the Duke went to church at Sandringham one last time before heading back to London this week. She wore the Flame Lily Brooch, a particularly appropriate choice since she recently marked the date of her accession, and that was the brooch she wore when returning home for the first time after her father's death.
The Queen, accompanied by the Princess Royal, visited Cumbria.
Click above for video from ITV News.
The Queen says she'd like the Cambridge baby to be born before she goes on holiday. So do we all, Your Maj. So.do.we.all. (Perhaps the Princess Royal was also in a baby mood today. Her hat, which can be seen in this report from the Daily Mail, is a repeat from Zara's christening. You know, in 1981. I'm a little disappointed she didn't reuse the entire outfit, frankly.)
The Queen invested the Duke of Edinburgh with the Order of New Zealand in the presence of the High Commissioner for New Zealand at Buckingham Palace. Later, she hosted a garden party, accompanied by other members of the royal family.
Click above for an article and video from the Telegraph.
Uh oh. Following today's business, the DoE was "admitted to the London Clinic for an exploratory operation following abdominal investigations." The palace says he could be there for two weeks, which means he would miss some of the biggest events of the year, including Trooping the Colour, the Order of the Garter ceremony, and Royal Ascot - not to mention his 92nd birthday. Get well soon, Phil. (Click here for another article on today's events.)
On a happier note, the Queen wore the Flame Lily Brooch again (for the garden party, following the petite Greville Scroll - which practically disappeared into her floral dress - for the Order of New Zealand presentation). I always forget how much I adore that delicate piece of artwork until she sports it, and then I fall in love all over again.
Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen finished her two day visit to the West Midlands in celebration of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee. The royal couple visited Birmingham and Shropshire.
I was rather surprised the Flame Lily Brooch didn't make the cut for the Buckingham Palace diamond exhibit - after all, it is the one she wore when she first stepped foot on British soil as queen - but perhaps she knew she needed it for this event: the brooch was made by Eric Kippin, whose son lives in Shropshire today.
The Queen, with The Duke of Edinburgh, honored Ascot Races with her presence today.
Clearly bored with Ascot 2012, Betty rolled up in a housecoat with the Flame Lily Brooch attached. I say boo, I wanted the Australian Wattle Brooch or something in honor of Black Caviar, the racing star of the day.
