CHOGM Dinner

The Queen hosted a dinner at Buckingham Palace for representatives and Heads of Government to celebrate the Commonwealth during the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). She was joined by multiple members of the Royal Family.

The Queen picked out some surprises for us tonight! First of all, we haven't seen the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara since 2015. Welcome back, Girls.

Royal Family

Second of all, she brought back the Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace! The Duchess of Cambridge borrowed this necklace for the Spanish State Banquet in 2017, but it hasn't been seen on The Queen herself since the 1980s.

Queen Mary's Ruby Cluster Earrings finished off the ruby accessories. The Queen also wore her favorite evening watch, a bracelet on her other hand, and several rings.

It's nice to see the jewel surprises continue - and her run of colored gem selections - even with the return of Her Maj's favorite tiara. Very sparkly indeed.

Royal Family

Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

Queen Mary's Ruby Cluster Earrings

Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace

Star of the Order of the Garter

Diamond Evening Watch

Diamond and Ruby Bracelet (possibly)
Diamond and Ruby Rings

Note: This was a multiple tiara event for the British royal ladies, and the rest are covered here at the other blog.

Photos: CHOGM screencaps, Royal Family

State Visit from Spain, State Banquet

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, along with other members of the Royal Family, hosted a state banquet at Buckingham Palace for The King and Queen of Spain during their State Visit to the United Kingdom.

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My wish for the Spanish state banquet was the Oriental Circlet and Queen Victoria's Crown Rubies. (Which is...pretty much my constant wish.) My prediction was that we'd get at least something from Queen Victoria, you know, because of the family ties and all. Her Majesty, however, is full of surprises.

House of HM the King

It's not just the Brazilian Aquamarine Parure that surprises me - and that is, by itself, a surprise; we haven't seen the tiara used since 2011 - it's the dress! There's color on The Queen's dress, are you seeing this? For someone so dedicated to her white dresses, even this amount of embroidery is a departure. Anyway, with all of this, she's wearing Spain's Order of the Golden Fleece (the red bow on her shoulder).

Brazilian Aquamarine Parure: Tiara, Earrings, Necklace, and Bracelet

Order of the Golden Fleece

CasaReal Screencap

 Meanwhile, we are very much back to Business As Usual for The Duchess of Cornwall's state banquet gear: the same choker she wore for the welcome ceremony, with her regular diamond tiara. There is, however, a new pair of earrings! Another pair from Van Cleef & Arpels, and there's more info in the link below. 

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Greville Tiara

Van Cleef & Arpels Snowflake Earrings

Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp
Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
Star, Riband, and Badge of the Royal Victorian Order
 Art Deco Diamond Brooch on her shoulder, previously worn
Diamond Bracelet, not yet covered here but regularly worn

CasaReal Screencap

I went into detail on The Duchess of Cambridge over at the other blog, but her loans require mention here too. Mainly, this is the first loan of the Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace, which the palace referred to today as the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Bandeau Necklace. It's one I've been hoping to see on her, as I know many of you also have. A treat!

Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara
Collingwood Pearl and Diamond Earrings (from the private collection of the late Diana, Princess of Wales)
Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace
Diamond Bracelet (possibly one of the two she's borrowed from The Queen in the past)


That's that. Again, more in depth coverage and coverage of others in up in full at the other blog, so check it out!

Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace

The Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace

This necklace was one of The Queen’s wedding gifts from her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; the palace has referred to it as the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Bandeau Necklace. It was part of the Greville bequest, the collection of jewelry left to Queen Elizabeth by the Hon. Mrs. Ronald Greville when she died. Mrs. Greville purchased the necklace from Boucheron in 1907.

The necklace on display with the rest of the wedding gifts, and a detail of the center

The intricate piece is set in silver and gold and features single rubies between diamond flowers. It’s an interesting bandeau format, a deep v-shape culminating in a diamond pendant. The Queen did shorten it, as she tends to do with necklaces, by removing the two smaller floral pieces (these are the pieces you see in the photograph at the beginning of the entry - to my knowledge, they have not been converted to earrings).

The Queen wore the necklace more frequently in her younger years, but as her collection widened, her use of this one decreased. It is a statement necklace to be sure, and even shortened it conflicts with her higher necklines. After the 1980s, the bandeau necklace rested unworn in her vault.

The Duchess of Cambridge debuts the necklace

It rested in the vault until 2017, when The Queen loaned it to The Duchess of Cambridge for the Spanish state banquet. In 2018, it made a surprise reappearance on The Queen herself, sparkling in use once again.

Appearances:
19 April 2018: CHOGM Dinner 
12 July 2017: State Visit from Spain, State Banquet (on The Duchess of Cambridge)
1983: State Visit to Sweden
1982: State Visit from the Netherlands
Various Years: State Opening of Parliament 

Photos: Royal Collection/Leslie Field/Life/Getty Images