The 2017 Diplomatic Reception (and a New Loan for The Duchess of Cambridge)

The Queen hosted the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace. The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke of Cambridge, and The Duchess of Cambridge were among those present. 

It doesn't look like we're getting lucky again this year with a proper group shot inside of the palace like we did last year - you'll remember that pictures from inside this event are rare - but we do have a glimpse inside the cars carrying the other members of the Royal Family to the party. We've got some loans from The Queen, including a new loan, so we'll cover it here: 

The Duchess of Cornwall 

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Solid repeats for Camilla for the evening, as we've seen both this dress and this jewelry combination on more than one past occasion. 

Greville Tiara

Pear Drop Diamond Demi-Parure Earrings 

Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp

Camilla will have worn the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II, though it is obscured by her cape in the car   

Riband of the Royal Victorian Order, certainly accompanied by the Star and Badge which can't be seen here

The Duchess of Cambridge 

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We have another new loaner for Kate, a diamond collet (rivière) necklace! This necklace must be a loan from The Queen, who has several of these collet necklaces in her collection. I am THRILLED to see her wearing one of these luscious necklaces! They're a) gorgeous and b) so versatile. The little black dress of (massive diamond) necklaces. She paired this with the tiara and earrings she's worn before.

 Cambridge (or Queen Mary's) Lover's Knot Tiara 
Collingwood Pearl and Diamond Earrings (from the private collection of the late Diana, Princess of Wales)
Diamond Collet Necklace

(A note on the necklace: While some will try to make a determination on which specific diamond necklace this is, I'm not likely to follow suit without official confirmation. Judging the size of a stone from one wearer to the next is a problem because the scale changes, and these necklaces can be changed in length by altering the number of stones to suit a new wearer. There are a lot of variables.)

The Riband, Badge, and Star of the Royal Victorian Order

The Queen is Sovereign of the Royal Victorian Order, a dynastic order of knighthood established by Queen Victoria in 1896 which recognizes distinguished personal service to the sovereign. This is The Queen's personal gift, and not one for which she must consult with her ministers. Among those honored with the Royal Victorian Order in varying grades are loyal members of the royal household, members of the royal family, and members of foreign royal families.

This entry focuses on the insignia of the Order worn by The Duchess of Cornwall (and shortly by The Duchess of Cambridge); other forms and grades exist.

The Riband, or sash, is blue with a band of red/white/red on either side, and it is worn across the body from the right shoulder to the left hip. At the hip hangs the badge, a white enamel Maltese cross edged in gold with a gold back. The center of the cross features the Royal Cypher of Queen Victoria in a ring of blue. The order of the motto, VICTORIA, is written on the ring and the medallion is topped by a Tudor crown. The Star has the same white cross and medallion at the center of a metal eight point star.

The Countess of Wessex wears the Order

Current working members of the royal family that hold the rank of Knight or Dame Grand Cross (the highest rank, and the one entitled to wear the Riband and other insignia as described here for state occasions) include:

• The Duke of Kent (appointed 1960) 
• Princess Alexandra (1960) 
• The Princess Royal (1974; appointed Grand Master in 2007) 
• The Duke of Gloucester (1974) 
• The Duchess of Kent (1977) 
• The Duchess of Gloucester (1989) 
• Prince Michael of Kent (2003) 
• The Countess of Wessex (2010) 
• The Duke of York (2011)
• The Earl of Wessex (2011) 
• The Duchess of Cornwall (2012) 
• The Duchess of Cambridge (2019)

For many, it is among the first such honors they receive from The Queen, while others are appointed after receiving honors of higher precedence. The names in bold above can currently be spotted wearing the Riband and Badge at most state occasions; others that have higher honors may wear some or none of the insignia at any given time.

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The Duchess of Cornwall wearing the Riband with the Badge at her hip (turned backwards - hazard of moving around, I expect) and the Star at her waist

The Duchess of Cornwall was appointed a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order on April 9, 2012, her seventh wedding anniversary. She currently wears the Riband, Badge, and Star on occasions such as state banquets and the State Opening of Parliament. Following her appointment, we first saw her use the insignia during the state visit from Kuwait in November 2012.

The Duchess of Cambridge was appointed a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order on April 29, 2019, her eighth wedding anniversary.

There is also a Collar and Mantle for the Royal Victorian Order, but it is not regularly seen in use. The service for the Royal Victorian Order is held privately.

Appearances (on The Duchess of Cornwall only):
14 October 2019: State Opening of Parliament
23 October 2018: State Visit from The Netherlands, State Banquet 
5 December 2017: Diplomatic Reception
12 July 2017: State Visit from Spain, State Banquet
8 December 2016: Diplomatic Reception 
1 November 2016: State Visit from Colombia, State Banquet
18 May 2016: State Opening of Parliament
2 June 2015: Royal Academy of Arts Dinner
27 May 2015: State Opening of Parliament 
3 March 2015: State Visit from Mexico, State Banquet 
4 June 2014: State Opening of Parliament
8 April 2014: State Visit from Ireland
8 May 2013: State Opening of Parliament
30 April 2013: Inauguration of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
27 November 2012: State Visit from Kuwait


Photos: Nicholas Jackson/Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, Frankie Fouganthin/Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, WPA Pool via Getty Images

The Duchess of Cornwall at the Royal Academy of Arts Dinner

A rare non-Queen event post today, but such things are called for in the event of an emergency Tiara Watch.

The Duchess of Cornwall attended the Royal Academy of Arts Annual Dinner at the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London.

View image | gettyimages.com

For more: Zimbio gallery.

Sneaky tiaras are the best kind of tiaras. I was not expecting Camilla to wear a diadem to this event, but she sparkled it up nevertheless, bless her. She repeated a gown she has worn to the State Opening of Parliament and echoed her usual approach for that event in everything except the tiara, wearing her Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings and her Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp.

View image | gettyimages.com

With Howard Jacobson

Other standard accessories included her favorite diamond bracelet, often said to have belonged to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, plus the insignia of the Royal Victorian Order (Riband, Star, and Badge) and the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II. Her sash appears to be anchored at the shoulder by the same diamond brooch we saw her debut at this year's State Opening of Parliament.

View image | gettyimages.com

For her tiara, she went with the same approach she's used for the annual Diplomatic Reception in the past, wearing her family's own tiara. The Cubitt-Shand Tiara is an asymmetrical diamond floral design said to have belonged to Sonia Keppel Cubitt, Camilla's maternal grandmother. Camilla wore the diadem to her first wedding, and her daughter Laura also wore it for her wedding. Since marrying Charles, we've only seen it in glimpses from that Diplomatic Reception, and it is unclear whether the tiara (a private jewel) is owned by The Duchess or if she borrows it from a family member. It's a smaller option than her usual tiara, the Greville Tiara, which makes it a nice choice for the more private diplomatic event and also for an event like this dinner.

View image | gettyimages.com

With Dame Joan Collins, at peak fabulous

This was apparently a white tie dinner - though of course it drew a mix of outfits from the guests because that's how things go - and with such a dress code, orders and tiaras (if you've got one) can be appropriate. Doubly appropriate when one is the official guest of honor, as Camilla was this evening. But tiaras at events where The Queen is not present and at events outside of the usual state occasions have become increasingly rare. Basically nonexistent, as a matter of fact. Camilla wore one to the dinner at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in 2013, but that was an occasion at which she and Charles were directly substituting for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. That made this a surprising occasion, but needless to say, one I was thrilled to see. Consider my day made! 

P.S. The Duchess of Cornwall had a busy day today. Stay tuned to the other blog tomorrow for more on the garden party she attended earlier in the day! 

Photos: Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images