It's been seventy years since The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh announced their engagement. Seventy!
First confirmation of the engagement came in the Court Circular on July 9, 1947, where an announcement read: "It is with the greatest of pleasure that The King and Queen announce the betrothal of their dearly beloved daughter, The Princess Elizabeth, to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, R.N., son of the late Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Andrew (Princess Alice of Battenberg), to which union The King has gladly given his consent."
On July 10, the happy couple made their first official public appearance together.
After yet another postponement, the 2017 Spanish state visit to the United Kingdom is on for July 12-14. That means we're on for coverage of the last state visit exchanged between the two countries.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in October 1988, returning the trip the Spanish royal couple took the the U.K. in 1986. The Queen brought with her a roster of her favorite day brooches, so we'll focus instead on two glittering evening events.
Having exchanged lower orders at their last meeting, the two sovereigns used this opportunity for some upgrades. King Juan Carlos was given the Order of the Garter; The Queen is wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece on its red bow. (The announcement that she was granted the Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece was issued in 1989.)
For Queen Sofia, it was another chance to wear the big Fleur de Lys Tiara, her usual choice when other monarchies came to visit.
For the rest of the Spanish royal family, it was a smorgasbord of tiaras - and unmistakably 80s fashions, too. Infanta Elena wore the Spanish Floral Tiara (close up here). Infanta Cristina wore the Prussian Diamond Tiara (close up here). A baby-faced future King Felipe was given the Royal Victorian Order.
Another glittering night on the tour saw some rubies and diamonds - the earrings and necklace from her Ruby and Diamond Swag Demi-Parure - plus something a little more rare:
A non-tiara hair ornament for Her Maj!
This was not the only time in history she used one of Queen Victoria's Hair Wheat-Ear Brooches as a barrette, but they were few (another was in 1991, in the United States). For a trip where everybody involved is a descendant of Queen Victoria, it was a nice little touch.
Fingers crossed, the state visit to come will involve a nice touch or two as well...
It was announced today that the 2017 State Opening of Parliament will be held on June 19th due to the snap election called by Prime Minister May. (I try my hardest to keep this a politics-free zone, so we won't go into the reasons behind the election on this blog.) The date means that the packed June royal schedule has to be altered, and that the State Opening will have a different look than the pomp-filled one we're used to.
June 19th is the Monday after Trooping the Colour, which is always the day reserved for Garter Day. The Queen has therefore decided to cancel this year's service for the Order of the Garter.
The State Opening coming so soon after Trooping the Colour does not leave enough time for practice of the ceremony, according to today's announcements, and so the 2017 State Opening will be a "dressed down" version. There will be no carriage procession to Parliament, and The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will not be present. The Imperial State Crown will be present, but it will not be worn by The Queen; she'll be expected in her usual daywear instead of a gown.
March 1974 -- the last time a "dressed down" Queen attended the State Opening of Parliament pic.twitter.com/Mbh0LQUC4z
The last time the State Opening of Parliament took place in this "dressed down" format was in March 1974. The BBC's Peter Hunt shared the above video of The Queen's arrival for the event, giving you an idea of what expect in 2017. The Queen wore her usual day outfit with hat; it looks to be her outfit from Princess Anne's first wedding. In 1974 there were actually two State Openings of Parliament, because there were two elections. The full crown-n'-gown procedure was in place for the October ceremony.
This Times Court Circular describes the scaled down ceremony for March 1974 State Opening. On this ocassion, HM came alone by car. pic.twitter.com/rxjL5pSt7F
Officials are insisting that this is not a permanent change - things will go back to the usual pomp and circumstance in 2018 - and that it is not due to any concerns regarding The Queen's age. A slight change was made in 2016, when The Queen took the elevator instead of the stairs during the State Opening.
Of course, the election has also had another effect on the royal schedule: the Spanish state visit has been pushed back to July 12-14. (Better than an indefinite delay, at least!)
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain are headed to the United Kingdom for a state visit in 2017 after postponing a planned 2016 visit due to political difficulties. Two state visits happened between the two countries during the reign of Felipe's father, King Juan Carlos I: Spain to the U.K. in 1986, and the U.K. to Spain in 1988. The 1986 state visit took place in late April at Windsor Castle.
The Spanish couple were greeted on arrival by The Prince and Princess of Wales. Queen Sofia rarely wears hats, but on this occasion she chose to fall in line with what she knew her hosts would wear and donned a large black chapeau.
The Queen greeted her relatives (Elizabeth, Philip, Juan Carlos, and Sofia are all descendants of Queen Victoria) wearing the Cambridge Pearl Pendant Brooch.
On this occasion, the sovereigns awarded each other orders that are not the highest rank for their respective countries. Juan Carlos was given the Royal Victorian Chain (he's wearing it around his neck in the photo above); Elizabeth was given the Order of Carlos III (which she wore with her Royal Family Orders). They awarded each other higher orders later.
Prince Philip and Prince Charles both received the Order of Carlos III. (You can see Philip also wearing the actual Garter from the Order of the Garter around his leg in the first state dinner photo.) Queen Sofia was not given a British order. The Queen Mother, who almost never wore foreign orders, was present in the Order of the Garter and the Greville Tiara.
When we covered Princess Marie Louise's Diamond Sunburst Brooch recently, some of you noted that Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother had also worn it during a French state visit. Absolutely correct - and it wasn't the only unusual jewel selection made during that state visit.
Video: On the Buckingham Palace balcony, during the state dinner
President Charles de Gaulle came to London for a state visit in April 1960. The Queen was just returning to public engagements after Prince Andrew's birth; Princess Margaret was recently engaged to Antony Armstrong-Jones. The state visit aimed to impress the French leader by pulling out every last bit of available pomp and circumstance, including an unusual stop on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the state dinner for fireworks and a wave to the crowds.
While The Queen wore favorite pieces - the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara and Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Necklace - The Queen Mother conveyed the importance of the visit by wearing her crown! Without the arches and cap, the crown made for the 1937 coronation becomes a terribly important circlet (she also wore it in this fashion at The Queen's coronation). As though that wasn't enough, all five strands of the Greville Festoon Necklace sparkled around her neck.
These old state visits included multiple tiara events, of course. Next up was dinner at the French embassy:
Princess Margaret doubled up on her tiaras, which is never a bad strategy. She wore the Lotus Flower Tiara in her hair (it's showcased beautifully in the video below) and the Poltimore Tiara as a necklace.
Video: The Royal Opera House event begins at 4:32
And so many more! There are additional royals and jewels to spot in the video above, so go ahead and bask in the splendor of this extra special state visit. It may have been the most significantly bejeweled of The Queen's reign.
Photos: via Getty Images as indicated, AP/British Pathe screencaps
From those of you who have visited the fashion exhibition at Buckingham Palace during this year's summer opening, I've heard consistent praise - and surprise - regarding one outfit in particular: The Queen's ensemble for the wedding of Princess Alexandra of Kent and the Hon. Angus Ogilvy, which was held on
April 24, 1963 at Westminster Abbey. Indeed, in the event that you are able to pull yourself from the yards of lace in the bride's John Cavanagh gown - and then pull yourself from whatever is going on with Princess Margaret's hat/hair situation after that (watch the video above, you'll see) - what you'll find is The Queen beating Elie Saab at his own game, decades before he had a game.
Norman Hartnell dressed The Queen for the occasion, creating an eau-de-nil dress with lily of the valley embellishment of silk flowers and embroidery at the waist and a gauzy matching coat with three-quarter length sleeves. The hat, by Simone Mirman, is packed with more of the flowers. Hartnell's work for The Queen is known for its impressive embroidery and beading, but this impresses in the lightness of the outfit as well as the exemplary craftsmanship.
Royal Collection Trust
It's lovely, isn't it? I'm glad we got a closer look at it. Getting a closer look at the jewelry still proves tricky, however. From what we can see, The Queen wore the Teck Corsage Brooch with a larger double strand of pearls (perhaps the Hanoverian pearls; what looks like a significant diamond clasp is visible in the video above). The Queen Mother was also decked out with a triple strand of pearls, the Greville Peardrop Earrings, and Queen Victoria's Fringe Brooch. Classic sparkle all around.
This outfit is on display at Buckingham Palace's summer exhibition, Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen's Wardrobe, open now through October 2, 2016.
Perhaps I have simply been too drawn to Princess Anne’s wedding gown – worn for her first wedding, to Captain Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey on November 14, 1973 – to really notice what was going on with The Queen’s outfit at this event. After all, the wedding dress by Maureen Baker of Susan Small is a fascinating creation, so striking and unique. The tiara catches my eye too, of course; Anne followed in her mother's footsteps by borrowing Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, one of the best of the classic fringe models.
TrendingNow screencaps
So maybe I just wasn’t paying attention, but I always wondered why The Queen’s outfit seemed a more "everyday" choice than outfits she would sport for close family weddings later on. The jewelry, at least, feels that way: the Dorset Bow Brooch would be an unusual choice today, when it is primarily used as a poppy holder, but it was a much more popular selection in her earlier years.
TrendingNow screencaps
(Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, on the other hand, was in full cozy splendor, with what looks to be a diamond clip on her hat and Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch on her coat.)
Royal Collection Trust
The Queen's hat was very much typical of the time, designed by Simone Mirman with blue and purple lace draped on the back. On display, however, there is much more to The Queen’s whole outfit than I realized from photos and video of the event.
A video posted by Royal Collection Trust (@royal_collection_trust) on
These pieces are showcases for diamond inset details, precision work from the atelier of Norman Hartnell. Done all in blue silk and emphasized with diamond shapes at the coat fastening, the cuts are subtle enough to fade from afar – and indeed, I never realized they were there, leading to my impression that this was a much plainer outfit than it really was. (But if those insets were in a contrasting color, they’d take this right into harlequin territory, so it was a clever choice.) Just another example of a close up bringing an outfit into a new light.
This outfit is on display at Buckingham Palace's summer exhibition, Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen's Wardrobe, open now through October 2, 2016.
The Queen has had the honor of opening the Olympic Games twice, in Montreal in 1976, and again in London in 2012. The outfits and jewels worn on those occasions reflect both the prominence of these events and the special challenges they present.
The Montreal Olympic Games of 1976 were a family affair. The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward all came to support Princess Anne, who was competing with the British equestrian team. As Queen of Canada, Her Majesty opened the Games wearing a light pink ensemble and a selection of diamonds and pearls.
AP screencaps
The Teck Corsage Brooch anchored the outfit, but the most special part may have been the necklaces. These look like the historic Queen Anne and Queen Caroline pearl necklaces, which The Queen also wore on her wedding day. (As always, I note how difficult it can be to tell her many strands of pearls apart.) She wore a petite watch, a gift from France, over one glove, as she often did in her earlier years.
The pink dress and silk crepe coat were by Hardy Amies, and the scene-stealing pink hat with stylized flowers dangling from silk stems was by Simone Mirman. The outfit would be worn the following year to the Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen's Silver Jubilee, sealing its place as one of the most memorable outfits of The Queen's reign.
An Olympic Opening Ceremony outfit needs to hit at least two important requirements, qualities found in that pink Montreal outfit and in the outfit worn decades later in London: it must be easily visible in a crowded stadium, and it must carefully avoid any colors or symbols that could tie it to a specific country.
The Queen's dress for the 2012 Opening Ceremony needed to have one additional important quality: it had to easily identify a Bond girl.
Olympics screencap
Two copies of this peach dress (one for Her Majesty, and one for a stunt double) were made in secrecy, so that "The Queen" could parachute into the Opening Ceremony with James Bond (Daniel Craig) for a truly epic entrance. The dress was designed by Angela Kelly, who wrote about the process of working with the Olympics Opening Ceremony creative team in her book, Dressing The Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe:
"The colour of the dress was also fundamental to the success of the sequence. We needed a solid colour that would stand out when The Queen descended towards the giant stadium, and within the setting of the stadium itself, which was a sea of colours. At the same time, care needed to be taken to choose a colour that was not associated strongly with any of the participating Olympic nations. Another important feature of the dress was its pleated skirt, which had to be identifiable as The Queen left the Palace so that it would be recognised as she descended from the helicopter, creating a visual sequence."
A headpiece of ostrich feathers with a cluster of small flowers, glass
beads, and sequins accompanied the outfit. So did a bunch of diamonds, as The Queen used the evening occasion to dig into the vaults. A smaller diamond collet necklace dipped in and out of her neckline, and Queen Adelaide's Brooch sparkled away from her shoulder. She also wore diamond earrings, which are a bit hard to identify (Queen Mary's Cluster Earrings or Queen Mary's Diamond Collet Earrings, I assume).
The 2012 outfit has proven to be one of mixed opinions, as has that hat from 1976. But like them or not, they're both shining examples of how much thought and careful planning goes into The Queen's wardrobe.
Both outfits are on display at Buckingham Palace's summer exhibition,
Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen's Wardrobe, open
now through October 2, 2016.
As I mentioned on the other blog yesterday, we'll be spending some of our Vault time this Balmoral break taking in-depth looks at a few of the outfits included in Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen's Wardrobe, the exhibit currently on at Buckingham Palace (and, in separate versions, currently at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and soon to come at Windsor Castle). What better way to start than with a wedding thirty years ago, and a tiara freshly featured.
Sarah Ferguson turned to Lindka Cierach for her wedding gown and Garrard for a tiara when she married Prince Andrew on July 23, 1986. Meanwhile, her new mother-in-law turned to Ian Thomas for an ensemble in cornflower blue silk and a matching saucer hat with silk chiffon flower trim. The outfit featured a long top with a wrap detail and buttons fastening it on one shoulder, over a silk dress with a knife-pleated skirt. It was an ensemble with a lot of movement and flow - something that came in quite handy as The Queen famously chased after a young Prince William, who went running after the carriage as the newlyweds departed for their honeymoon.
It was also, however, an ensemble that didn't lend itself well to a brooch, which is how The Queen came to attend a huge family event without her signature jeweled accessory. She compensated by wearing a serious double strand of pearls, the historical Hanoverian pearls (as is almost always the case with pearl necklaces, however, they're very difficult to pin down). She wore the diamond-set clasp to the side, adding a little sparkle in the absence of a brooch.
The Queen wore the earrings from Queen Alexandra's Wedding Parure, another upgrade from her daily choices. The Queen Mother upgraded as well, using the Greville Peardrop Earrings during the day, as she liked to do for special events. The grandmother of the groom also wore a triple strand of pearls and a favorite sapphire and diamond brooch that she received from Queen Mary as a wedding gift.
The Queen's outfit is dated by now, of course (though there are some similarities between the pleated bottom of this outfit and more current outfits, such as the peach number worn to the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics). The hat, on the other hand, I could easily see fitting right in with the style of many of The Queen's younger family members today. When you transcend fashion, as she does, you never really go out of style.
This outfit is on display at Buckingham Palace's summer exhibition, Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen's Wardrobe, open now through October 2, 2016.
The Queen’s outfit for the wedding of her sister, Princess Margaret, and Antony Armstrong-Jones on May 6, 1960 was in some ways a departure from her usual outfits – and, ultimately, would mark a departure from a certain style of royal dress codes.
Norman Hartnell dressed the bride in her sublime white gown (which you can read more about here) and dressed her reigning sister in an ensemble designed to complement. (He also, of course, dressed all of the rest of the principal women of the Royal Family, because he was indeed the royal couturier extraordinaire). Taking a step away from the elaborate embroidery that often adorned Hartnell’s full-length outfits for The Queen, the dress is simple turquoise blue silk taffeta and silk tulle with guipure lace on the top and down the back. Lace also adorns the matching bolero jacket. The hat was topped by roses as a nod to Princess Margaret Rose.
Royal Collection Trust/Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Princess Margaret’s wedding was the last such occasion for which the royal women would wear long day dresses. Even then, it was already slightly less formal than it had been for The Queen’s own wedding in 1947, where the women also wore their order sashes. This type of dress code, once rather common among royal houses for special day events, has continued to die out over the years. But it still lives on in some monarchies: the Danish, Spanish, Dutch, and Japanese houses are among those who keep this modern sort of court dress for certain occasions.
This outfit is currently on display as part of the exhibit Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style at
the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The exhibition is the largest display yet
of The Queen's fashion, and runs at Holyroodhouse from April 21 -
October 16, 2016, at Buckingham Palace from July 23 - October 2, and at
Windsor Castle from September 17 - January 8, 2017.
Prince William married Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 (perhaps you recall...). No
better time than their fifth wedding anniversary to revisit that most
famous recent royal wedding - with, of course, a focus on our blog's
primary subjects and the jewels they displayed.
Though
The Queen still wears outfits from other couturiers, there wasn't much
doubt that she'd select one from her personal assistant for this huge
royal event. Angela Kelly designed this single crepe wool primrose dress with hand sewn beading at the neck in the shape of sunrays and matching double crepe wool tailored primrose coat. Ms. Kelly also
designed the matching crepe hat with handmade silk roses and
apricot-colored leaves.
With
her standard daytime pearls and earrings, The Queen chose the True Lover's Knot Brooch from Queen Mary. It was a significant choice not
only in theme - these knots are symbols of love, friendship, affection - but also
in size. This brooch is most frequently used for evening events, with
the exception of special events such as this one.
The
Duchess of Cornwall's brooch choices were also symbolic, in their own way; the Van Cleef
& Arpels Cosmos collection has a design based in part on the four leaf
clover. Camilla has a pair of these brooches and a pair of Cosmos earrings, and she wore either one large and one small brooch or one
large brooch and one earring as a brooch. She also wore her Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings and a favorite single strand of pearls with her
Anna Valentine-designed champagne silk dress and hand-embroidered duck
egg blue and champagne coat. Jimmy Choo shoes, a Philip Treacy hat, and
an Anna Valentine clutch completed her elegant and understated outfit.
Video: Full wedding broadcast
Just in case you feel like wasting a few hours of your day on this noble cause, the full wedding broadcast is above.
Photos: British Monarchy screencaps unless otherwise noted
Following her elaborate tour of India in 1961, The Queen's next visit to India came in November of 1983. The state visit coincided with that year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in New Delhi, and served as the tail end to a larger tour that included state visits to Kenya and Bangladesh.
There were at least two evening events during the trip (plus, of course, the traditional CHOGM banquet with all the present leaders), and both included wonderful colored stone sets without their usual tiara pairings. Depending on your tiara tastes, this might make for an improvement. You decide...
For the state banquet, The Queen left her sapphire tiara at home and instead paired the George VI Sapphire Necklace and Earrings with Queen Alexandra's Kokoshnik Tiara. I love this, perhaps even more than when she pairs these jewels with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara - the simple lines of the Kokoshnik really let the sapphires stand out. Knowing that the Modern Sapphire Tiara isn't a favorite for one and all, I wonder if this match improves the sapphire set for you? (You can also just barely see what looks like her Sapphire Cluster Ring on her hand.)
I find myself in a similar situation with Her Maj's choice for another evening event, the necklace and earrings from the Brazilian Aquamarine Parure. Personally, I am really (okay, really) not a fan of the tiara that was created for this parure. Seeing the other pieces without it always increases my admiration for the stones themselves - because they are, no matter your design preferences, unimpeachably impressive. Agreed? Photos: via Getty Images
The Queen's visit to India and Pakistan in 1961 was the first of a reigning monarch since the countries won independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. She and The Duke of Edinburgh also visited Nepal and Iran in a trip that lasted from January through March.
The Queen's hat style was really getting interesting around this time, on a sartorial note, and her brooch style still included some fabulously large choices. The trip also highlights a time before The Queen was tied to the same earring and necklace combination every day. Two, three, and four strands of pearls can be seen in these reels, as well as her simple Pearl Stud Earrings.
And, of course, there were the tiaras. As was typical of trips at this time, there were multiple tiara occasions; I've highlighted only some of those with ties to our recent discussion about jewels with Indian connections. Given our discussion about the appropriateness of wearing such pieces in the region, it's interesting to see how The Queen herself handled it. In India, she wore the Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace, and in Pakistan, a few key pieces:
The Queen's favorite version of the Cambridge Emeralds and the Delhi Durbar Parure returned to the region for the first time since the 1911 Delhi Durbar for which pieces of the set were made. Of course, her favorite version happens to be heavy on the Cambridge emerald part of the equation and less on the same Delhi Durbar portion worn by Queen Mary in 1911. Mary's green stones were in the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara, the Delhi Durbar Necklace and Earrings and Bracelet (not pictured), and the Round Cambridge Emerald Brooch. She's also wearing the Order of Pakistan (the sash has since changed). Personally, I don't expect to see any of these particular pieces loaned out anytime soon, but it is food for thought after our recent discussion.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh made one of their many trips to France in 1972, for a state visit complete with a state dinner given in The Queen's honor by President Pompidou at the Grand Trianon at Versailles.
There was a surprise to be found in her jewelry selections, though: the brooch. This was perhaps the only time in her reign she wore the triple drop pearl and diamond brooch from Queen Alexandra's Wedding Parure in public, up until it reappeared in 2014. Why so long a wait? That's a mystery indeed.
What may have been more famous than the occasion here was her Hardy Amies dress. Or, rather, it would become more famous, as a few years later she wore it to sit for her Silver Jubilee portrait. Later interpreted by Andy Warhol and featured on the cover of a Sex Pistols album, the portrait would reach iconic status.
The dress is now featured in Kensington Palace's Fashion Rules Revisited exhibition, highlights of which were covered on the other blog earlier this month. Check out the video above for the story of the dress (plus some extra tidbits about one of Princess Margaret's saucy looks).
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall will accompany The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh later this week as they travel to Malta for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and a state visit. All four teamed up in Uganda for CHOGM 2007 as well, and when it came to The Queen's traditional banquet for Commonwealth heads, that meant double the tiara fun.
This was a big event for The Duchess of Cornwall two years after her marriage, and that was reflected in the jewels worn with her flattering blue gown: her standard Greville Tiara, the earrings from her Diamond Pear Drop Demi-Parure, and her public debut of the staggering Greville Festoon Necklace in its full five strand glory. She also had on her Royal Family Order, which she had worn for the first time the month before. This whole appearance belongs in the Camilla Tiara Appearance Hall of Fame, if you ask me.
Needless to say, I am anxiously awaiting this year's dinner on Friday - especially since we missed Camilla at the last state banquet. Any jewel predictions or wishes?
Ten years ago, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh traveled to Malta to do just what they'll do again this month: attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), and combine that with a state visit. The trip had plenty of sparkly moments, but the crown jewel (heh) of the 2005 trip came at the state dinner hosted by President Eddie Fenech Adami.
Behold! The glorious Oriental Circlet. To date, this is the only time The Queen has worn this diadem in public, a fact which makes me both glad (that she wore it at all) and ever so sad (because I love this one, and doesn't it look perfect on her?).
Made originally for Queen Victoria and designed by Prince Albert, the ruby tiara was one of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's signature jewels. But instead of wearing it just as her mother usually did, with Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Necklace and Earrings, The Queen gave it her own spin.
Malta is a place with special personal significance for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, thanks to long periods spent on the island between 1949 and 1951, when The Duke was stationed there with the Royal Navy and their life was less "royal" and more "normal". They've visited the country several times since.
When she visited in November 1967, she was the Queen of Malta, Malta having maintained her as head of state after gaining independence from Britain in 1964. (This lasted until 1974, when they became a republic.)
Video: The Queen's visit highlights
Many of the jewels brought along for the trip were pretty standard state visit picks, such as the Dorset Bow Brooch and the Cullinan V Brooch (worn with a sparkling badge underneath), but there were also some interesting and relatively new pieces at play.
We don't know much about the Diamond and Gold Rose Brooch, but this 1967 trip is one of its early - if notthe earliest - appearances on The Queen. It seems it was only scarcely used until a burst of outings around 2012.
The Queen wore her Brazilian Aquamarine Parure on this trip, at a time when it looked slightly different - she wouldn't have the tiara modified to its current format until 1971. (She was also wearing her Garter insignia and Royal Family Orders, of course.)
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh's next trip to Malta is fast approaching: they'll travel there in late November for the 2015 session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The
Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will also be along for the ride.
Photos: via British Pathe video screencaps and Getty Images
