Balmoral Holiday, 2014

The Queen has officially started her annual holiday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. I will collect links to her appearances during the break here, and you'll find the link to this post on the side bar under Recently Updated Events until public events start up again. During the break, I have updates to take care of and (time permitting) we have some backlogged jewels to cover, so stay tuned!

• NEW! September 28: Attending church at Balmoral (alternate link). Wearing for the second time one of the brooches we've seen debuted this year, the Turquoise and Diamond Brooch.
• NEW! September 21:Attending church at Balmoral (see here or here). No brooch visible.
• September 14: The media was invited to watch The Queen speaking to people after church today - a rare move indeed. She let them hear her make a comment on the upcoming Scottish independence referendum, urging people to think carefully. Not exactly a wild statement, but this is incredibly rare from her, and it's getting quite a bit of attention. She appears to be wearing a rare brooch, too, the Tutti Frutti Bouquet Brooch. Pics can be seen at the Daily Mail, Sky News, and The Telegraph.
• September 6: The Braemar Gathering, as is traditional each year.
• Apropos of nothing, really, but HM was pictured riding out at Balmoral.
• August 24: Attending church at Balmoral. No brooch visible.
• August 17: Attending church at Balmoral, with Princess Eugenie in tow and the Kent Amethyst Brooch out on display. (Do revisit the Kent Amethyst link, a rather interesting find has been posted in the comments by Jeanne!)
• August 7: Official welcome and review of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. As expected, HM wore the badge of the Royal Regiment of Scotland for the job.

Audience at Balmoral

The Queen invested Peter Cosgrove, Governor-General of Australia, as a Knight of the Order of Australia at Balmoral.

#453211758 / gettyimages.com

And now the Queen is fully on holiday mode, Balmoral tartan skirt and all. Still can't forget the pearls, though.

Pearl Stud Earrings

One Strand Pearl Necklace

Black Strap Watch (Likely)

Engagement and Wedding Rings

Photo:WPA Pool via Getty Images

World War I Commemoration and Turriff Show Visit

The Queen attended a service of commemoration to mark the centenary of the First World War at Crathie Kirk in Aberdeenshire. Also today, she attended the Turriff Show, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the agricultural event.

#453173628 / gettyimages.com

For more: Daily Mail photos, Press and Journal article (on the agricultural show), ITNSource video (also from the show).
Her official arrival at Balmoral Castle is yet to come, but HM has already started her annual Scotland holiday. She still joined her family members in marking today's significant anniversary at multiple locations, visiting the church she normally attends while at Balmoral (and a rare glimpse it is for us, to see inside while she's there).

For the day's other public event (above), she had an outfit switch but stuck with one of Queen Victoria's Bows, which was showing off its largest stones quite nicely.

Queen Victoria's Bow Brooch

Queen Mary's Button Earrings

Three Strand Pearl Necklace

Photos: WPA Pool via Getty and ITNSource video

Commonwealth Games Visit

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited several venues at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

#452607590 / gettyimages.com

For more: Zimbio gallery.
Done with the neutrals, for today's meanderings HM coordinated well for photobombing the Australian team and went Scottish with her brooch, the Three Thistle Brooch. The brooch was swapped to the dress underneath during the day.

Three Thistle Brooch (Now with updated provenance information!)

Queen Mary's Button Earrings

Three Strand Pearl Necklace

Gold Watch

Engagement and Wedding Rings

Photo: WPA Pool via Getty

Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games

The Queen opened the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

For more: Video of the opening, gallery from Zimbio, article from the Daily Mail.
This reminds me of the Queen's peach outfit from the Olympics opening ceremony - a color carefully chosen so as not to appear to be cheering for any particular country. (And on that same note, I'd wager the brooch's provenance, which is unknown to us, is probably not tied strongly to any Commonwealth entity either.)

Multi-Color French Flower Brooch

Queen Mary's Button Earrings

Three Strand Pearl Necklace

Photo: Commonwealth Games video

Audiences and Prince George's Birthday Party

The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace, including investing Sir Simon Rattle with the Insignia of a Member of the Order of Merit, presenting Dame Quentin Bryce with the Insignia of Dame of the Order of Australia, and receiving Judith Weir, the new Master of the Queen's Music.

For more: Video from ITNSource, gallery from Zimbio.

First up, a little business...

Six Petal Diamond Flower

Queen Mary's Button Earrings

Three Strand Pearl Necklace

Gold Watch

Engagement and Wedding Rings 

 

 

And then, some play: The Queen attended Prince George's first birthday at Kensington Palace. Different outfit and different brooch, but I can't tell which one.

Photo: ITNSource video

Reading Railway Station Opening

The Queen officially opened the renovated railway station in Reading.

 
For more: Video from ITNSource, gallery from Zimbio, article from BBC News.

It's the second time HM has worn this brooch, and the second time on this same outfit - though I hardly think the color selection today was random...

The Queen meeting construction workers at the new Reading station #rdguk pic.twitter.com/kjwBNAjxzc
— Reading Council (@ReadingCouncil) July 17, 2014

New Zealand Blue Pearl Brooch

Queen Mary's Button Earrings

Three Strand Pearl Necklace

Updated to add... on Friday, July 18, The Queen held an investiture at Windsor Castle. It was, as always, hard to tell what brooch she wore.

Photo: ITNSource video