Showing posts with label Irish Blossom Brooch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Irish Blossom Brooch. Show all posts

24 June 2017

Royal Ascot, Day 5, Plus a Wrap Up of the Remaining Royal Fashions

The Queen honored Ascot Races with her presence today.

A somewhat rare brooch closes out Ascot for us this year; the Irish Blossom hasn't been seen since 2014. It accompanied The Queen's fourth Stewart Parvin/Rachel Trevor-Morgan outfit combo of the week, a magenta hat and coat with a pistachio and rose dress underneath.


Three Strand Pearl Necklace

With no winners among this year's runners, The Queen wasn't a lucky owner this year. How did you do in the Ascot Brooch Stakes? Did you have any winners?

Day 1: Singapore Peranakan Diamond Jubilee Brooch on a lime green outfit
Day 2: The Flame Lily Brooch on yellow
Day 3: The Small Pink and Diamond Brooch on (what else?) pink
Day 4: Jardine Star Brooch on a muted jade background
Day 5: The Irish Blossom Brooch on another pink coat

There weren't any surprises this year, which is always what I hope for. But I suppose our streak of Ascot brooch debuts had to come to an end at some point. The Flame Lily was the best brooch of the week in my book.


We've been cataloging the rest of the royal fashions from Ascot over at the other blog (Day 1 here, Days 2 & 3 here). Royal attendance really tapered off on Days 4 & 5, so let's wrap up the rest right now:



Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie usually bring along their mother for one Ascot day. That day was Day 4, and orange accessories stole the show for both Eugenie (wearing a floral L.K. Bennett dress with a fab pop of orange on her shoes and a hat that I really wish was worn at a different angle) and for Beatrice (in her second Claire Mischevani outfit of the week with a Vivien Sheriff hat and a lovely orange clutch to tie it all together).



Sarah, Duchess of York wore a hat previously seen on Eugenie and continued the Amanda Wakeley theme started by Beatrice on Day 3, sporting not only a similar dress from the designer but using the same apparent shirt-under-dress strategy. Listen, I have a CRAZY idea, it's really complicated but see if you can follow me: if you want a dress with an elbow-length sleeve...buy a dress with an elbow-length sleeve.



Princess Beatrice turned up on Day 5 too, once again wearing Amanda Wakeley. And once again her accessories stole the show, adding interest with a colorful belt and carrying a purse that would make her granny proud.

Princess Marie-Chantal Instagram

One last royal sighting for Ascot week: Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece! Smallest hat I've liked this week, and several rounds of applause for pepping up a simple white outfit with some long necklaces.

07 June 2014

State Visit to France, Flower Market Renaming and Departure

On the third day of their French State Visit, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were welcomed at City Hall by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. They then visited the Paris Flower Market for a ceremony renaming it in the Queen's honor prior to their ceremonial departure from France.
At first glance, I wondered if this was a repeated suit from day 1, but no - no! Don't be silly, this is just officially the visit of the pink textured suit. (I'm not so sure about the lace cut out details on this one...) Obviously a visit to the flower market requires a floral brooch, so the Queen selected one of her less frequently used modern pieces.

This has been such an active state visit, it requires a wrap up post for final thoughts, so stay tuned.

Irish Blossom Brooch

Photos:ITV News video and Getty Images/WPA Pool

15 June 2012

"Cook for the Queen" Reception

In addition to other audiences, the Queen gave a Reception for the winners of the "Cook for The Queen" Competition at which the Duchess of Cornwall was present.
Ooh, a mystery brooch. The Irish Blossom Brooch, of unknown origin - but quite a large thing, isn't it?


Photos:Cropped from WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe

The Irish Blossom Brooch

Irish Blossom Brooch
Not much is known about this piece; it features six diamond flowers blossoming off a central stem. Each flower has a golden center.
It seems to be a fairly recent addition, possibly first appearing during a visit to Northern Ireland in 2009 and has been said to be a private gift for The Queen's diamond wedding anniversary in 2007 (as detailed in the comments). The appearance in 2010 in Oman seems a bit of an outlier in comparison with other appearances, as it was worn with an evening dress and rubies; as suggested by Jelena in the comments, one theory is the brooch could have come from The Sultan of Oman. The Three Thistle Brooch was confirmed to be part of a set of four pins from The Sultan, and I can't help but notice the common golden and diamond design characteristics, though the Three Thistle did not appear until a few years later (see that entry for more details). Nothing has been confirmed, and that is all mere speculation.

Appearances:
24 June 2017: Royal Ascot, Day 5
7 June 2014: State Visit to France, Flower Market Renaming and Departure
15 June 2012: "Cook for the Queen" Reception
2010: State Visit to the UAE and Oman 
2010: Visit to Canada 
2009: Royal Ascot

Photos: Pool/Getty Images