Showing posts with label Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Brooch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Brooch. Show all posts

24 June 2015

State Visit to Germany, State Banquet

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended a state banquet given in their honor by President Gauck at Bellevue Palace during their state visit to Germany.
For more: Sky news article and video, Zimbio gallery.
Looks like those of you guessing that Ascot might have been a trial run for the state visit were correct!

The Victoria and Albert theme continued at the state banquet, as The Queen accented the red of her German sash by reunited Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Brooch with Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Necklace and Earrings.
 She was in a very sparkly mood - which we love - even sporting the Teck Corsage Brooch on her back to keep her sash in place.

Ever the tease, Her Maj did refrain from going the full Queen Mother route this evening, selecting the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara instead of the Oriental Circlet. My wait to see the complete set reunited continues, but it's probably better this way. I need some time to get used to all these magnificent rubies in one place...


Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Necklace and Earrings
Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Brooch
Teck Corsage Brooch (on back, no pendants)
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Riband and Star
Diamond Evening Watch

Photos:via Getty Images, SkyNews video
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16 June 2015

Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Brooch

Surrounding a large colored gemstone with a row of diamonds is a classic showcase design, and it's used twice in this brooch: a large faceted oval ruby in a diamond surround above a pear-shaped ruby and diamond pendant. These rubies are exceptionally large examples of the stone; big rubies are rare, and recent auctions have seen them sell for millions. It is not surprising, then, that these stones have a long history in the royal family.
Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Brooch
In July 1854, Queen Victoria purchased from Garrard a set of opal and diamond jewelry consisting of a necklace, a pair of earrings, and a brooch. These items were probably bought to create a set with her Oriental Circlet tiara, which was designed in opals and diamonds by her husband, Prince Albert, and had been completed by Garrard the previous year. The brooch shown here is most likely that 1854 brooch; the Oriental Circlet and Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Earrings and Necklace have been covered previously.
Queen Victoria and Queen Mary, wearing what may be this brooch. Queen Victoria would have been wearing the opal version, though she was also painted in a ruby brooch of a similar design.
These pieces were left by Queen Victoria to the Crown when she died in 1901, and they have remained in the collection ever since, though they no longer look as they did when Queen Victoria wore them. Most of the opals were removed and replaced by rubies in 1901/2 by Queen Alexandra; according to Suzy Menkes' The Royal Jewels, the brooch was not altered to ruby stones until 1926. Despite the alternations, the parure was truly showcased until it passed to Queen Elizabeth (the future Queen Mother) after her husband, George VI, took the throne.
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
The Oriental Circlet and Crown Ruby Necklace and Earrings were among her favorite jewels. She liked the ruby parure so much, she kept it after her daughter took the throne in 1952, and wore it throughout her widowhood. She also used other ruby brooches with the parure; in fact, when listing the set as used by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, The Queen's Jewels by Leslie Field states that it includes four brooches. 
The Crown ruby set returned to The Queen after her mother's death in 2002. The pendant brooch was the last of the three main parts of the set (tiara, necklace/earrings, brooch) to get its public debut, making a big splash at the first day of Royal Ascot in 2015. Unlike her mother, The Queen has chosen to wear all the pieces separately, and has yet to combine them. As large, impressive, and priceless as Queen Victoria's Crown Ruby Brooch is on its own, I'm still looking forward to the day when we see it reunited with the Oriental Circlet and the Crown Ruby Earrings and Necklace.

Appearances:
24 June 2015: State Visit to Germany 
16 June 2015: Royal Ascot, Day 1

Photos: via Reuters and Getty Images; Jagger/BBC; ANP; British Pathe
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Royal Ascot, Day 1 and Audience at Windsor Castle

The Queen honored Ascot Races with her presence today.
Ooooh oooh OOOH - look! It's only Day 1 of the Ascot brooch parade, and my brooch wishes have already been fulfilled! This is a brooch we haven't seen since it was worn by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and it is likely part of the set of Crown rubies that date back to Queen Victoria (although there are multiple ruby brooches and some dispute over which belong specifically to the set and which come from other sources). See the link below for more.

It's enormous and luscious, and looks a treat on this vibrant pink. I'm already on pins and needles waiting for Day 2...



We'll be doing a full rundown of the Ascot fashion stakes on the other blog tomorrow, so I'll save my comments on The Duchess of Cornwall's outfit for then. But as far as the jewels go...
...pffft. They're nothing to sneeze at on their own, don't get me wrong, but they are a bit of a let down after The Queen's surprise. Her Four Strand Pearl Choker with Small Diamond Clasp (with her chain necklace and C charm underneath) and her Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings make for a thoroughly everyday combination.


The Queen also received the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea for a private audience at Windsor Castle.

Bonus brooch for a busy day!


Photos:via Getty Images
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