12 December 2015

The Duchess of Cornwall's Pink Topaz Choker and Earrings

With a big pink stone right at its heart and a gorgeous pair of earrings to match, The Duchess of Cornwall's Five Strand Pearl Choker with Pink Topaz Clasp is my personal favorite member of her extensive pearl necklace collection. The clasp features an oval pink topaz stone surrounded by a ring of diamonds in a delicate scrolling design and a ring of collet-set diamonds on the outside. She also has matching earrings, each with an oval pink topaz in a foliate diamond design. The diamonds used in the pieces are rose and cushion-cut.
The Duchess of Cornwall's Five Strand Pearl Choker with Pink Topaz Clasp
We know some of the details of the history of this set, and other details have been assumed. It has been widely reported that the jewels were a gift from The Prince of Wales (some have even said they were his wedding gift to her); while I agree with that assumption, I do not believe that it has been officially confirmed. What we know is that the pink topaz and diamond center, which had a detachable brooch setting, and the earrings were sold at a Sotheby's auction in June 2000 for £22,925.
At auction
According to the auction notes, the pieces date from the 1830s and are thought to have once been part of a larger jewel such as a tiara or necklace. Many have assumed they were purchased directly from Sotheby's by The Prince of Wales, but they were not worn publicly by The Duchess until several years later.
Wearing both choker and earrings

They have certainly been in The Duchess of Cornwall's collection since at least 2006. The earrings were worn to a dinner in Pakistan that year. The necklace was first worn in a longer version with the clasp at the side before being shortened to the choker style we know today. The current format was first seen on The Duchess at the May 2008 wedding of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly.
Wearing the necklace with her Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings
The set has been worn for both evening and day engagements; day engagements are more likely to be high-profile royal events (weddings, Trooping the Colour, Royal Ascot, etc.) instead of regular day-to-day appearances. As she often does with her demi-parures, Camilla regularly wears the earrings and choker separately. With such a wonderful color in the pink stones and such a regal setting, any appearance of the set is guaranteed to get a rave review from me.

Appearances (of necklace only, unless otherwise noted):
23 October 2018: State Visit from The Netherlands, State Banquet 
20 June 2017: Royal Ascot, Day 1
15 May 2016: The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration at Windsor
12 May 2016: Buckingham Palace Garden Party
27 November 2015: Visit to Malta, Day 2, CHOGM Dinner (with earrings)
18 June 2014: Royal Ascot, Day 2 (with earrings)
14 June 2014: Trooping the Colour
12 June 2010: Trooping the Colour

Appearances include those from the date the entry was published, and only those featured on the blog previously.

Photos: National Assembly For Wales / Cynulliad Cymru Flickr via Creative Commons License 2.0 (first and last images, cropped), Sotheby's, and via Getty Images
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09 December 2015

Audiences at Buckingham Palace

The Queen held several audiences at Buckingham Palace
I believe this is a side view of Prince Albert's Sapphire, and I have a whole scenario worked up in my head where the Ambassador from the Gabonese Republic here noticed the sapphire wonder right before this shot was taken. (I mean, I'm sure Madam Ambassador has more pressing things to notice, but you know.)


Photo: via Getty Images
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08 December 2015

The Duchess of Cambridge at the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace

The annual Diplomatic Reception (a tiara event) was held at Buckingham Palace tonight with senior members of the Royal Family present. This is an event for which we scarcely ever get inside pictures, but from those spotted going to and fro in their cars, we got a BIG surprise... 

The Duchess of Cambridge in the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara (a.k.a. Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara)! I honestly thought we'd have a long time to wait to see this baby in use again, and I love it so. Hang on, I need a few more exclamation points here...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

My updated entry on this tiara is here; it also has its own entry on this blog here. It was made for Queen Mary and modeled after a tiara worn by her grandmother, Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge. It was inherited by The Queen, who wore it before loaning it to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who made it a signature piece. It returned to The Queen, and she has now loaned it to Kate.

This makes three loaned tiaras from The Queen in just four tiara occasions for The Duchess, which is impressive. Plus, giving this a "soft opening" of sorts - at an event which is mainly private, and where she debuted the Lotus Flower Tiara in 2013 - might just be a brilliant way to introduce the piece, to help get the "Diana's tiara" business over with before a bigger state event. 

Oh, and also on loan from The Queen: The Duchess of Cambridge's diamond earrings, which she's been wearing since 2011. We haven't featured those yet. Kate also appears to be wearing the same Alexander McQueen gown she wore to her first Diplomatic Reception in 2013, and we still have not seen a full shot of that.

 I read that The Duchess of Cornwall would be attending this event as well, but she wasn't in the car with The Prince of Wales and I haven't seen a picture of her. (Update: Court Circular confirms that she was not in attendance, and aides say she had to pull out because of neck and shoulder pains.) And since there are usually no interior photos released, we have no way of knowing what The Queen wore. This is one year where what we can see is feast enough!

Update #2: For video of the reception and a better look at the tiara on Kate, see here.

Photos: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
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07 December 2015

The Malta Aquamarine Brooch

The Malta Aquamarine Brooch
Featuring an oval aquamarine stone with a diamond setting and a larger diamond surround, The Queen debuted this brooch when opening the 2015 session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta.
The name I am using here, the Malta Aquamarine Brooch, refers to that location and not to a known provenance. Queen Mary wore* a brooch which could be a match, with a similar shape and basic design. It's an interesting potential provenance, since Queen Mary was not regularly associated with aquamarine stones, and she appears to be wearing a brooch with another colored stone in the photo. The first appearance of the brooch has naturally prompted speculation of a connection to either Malta or the Commonwealth, although The Queen more frequently wears brooches without such a connection to this event. Officially, the origin of this lovely and dainty brooch remains unconfirmed.

*This was noticed in a photograph posted by Beth at the Royal Jewels of the World Message Board in March 2016, and the Malta Brooch resemblance was pointed out by Brock. Thanks to them both.

Appearances:
29 May 2019: Audience at Buckingham Palace
27 November 2015: Visit to Malta, CHOGM Opening Ceremony

Photos: CHOGM Malta Flickr/DOI-Omar Camilleri/via Getty Images
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04 December 2015

Investiture at Windsor Castle and Audience

The Queen held an Investiture at Windsor Castle.
For more: Guardian article.
My first thought is The Queen Mother's Palm Leaf Brooch. What do you think? UPDATE: And yes, it is indeed the Palm Leaf (with thanks to @TheRoyalExpert).
See video from BBC Midlands here



I missed one yesterday, so thanks to those that let me know:

December 3: The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.
For more: Zimbio gallery.
And this one, happily, is clear as day: it's the Amethyst Bouquet Brooch.

Photos:BBC Midlands video screencap, and via Twitter and Getty Images
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03 December 2015

St. Columba's Church Anniversary and State Visit Announcement

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited St. Columba's Church of Scotland, Knightsbridge, London to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the church's rededication.
Two appearances doesn't make a trend, but it sure would be grand if the recent appearance of the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara in its green version plus this Cambridge emerald brooch was the start of an emerald one (probably not, but a jewel lover can dream). Still, greedy me can't help but note that I miss the pendant on this brooch very much here.


A general news update, while we're at it...
 The first tiara occasion of 2016 has just been announced, and it's a doozy: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain are coming for a state visit! Windsor Castle, March 8-10, mark your calendars. The last state visits exchanged between the countries were in 1986 (when Spain came to the UK) and 1988 (when the UK went to Spain). Rest assured, I have my jumpy claps at the ready.

Update: The Queen also held audiences today, see here.


Photo: WPA Pool via Getty Images
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02 December 2015

Audiences at Buckingham Palace

The Queen held several audiences at Buckingham Palace.
Add another color to the rainbow of dresses that coordinate exceptionally well with this room. Orange and Queen Victoria's Bow is a throwback to Christmas 2013; in fact, this looks like the dress that was under that coat.


Photo: WPA Pool via Getty Images
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