07 July 2016

Holyrood Week: Order of the Thistle Service and Archers' Hall Portrait

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of Cambridge (The Earl of Strathearn, in Scotland), and The Princess Royal, attended a Service for the Order of the Thistle at St. Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh.

The last Thistle service - in 2014; this one is held every other year - brought us a most unusual selection of ruby earrings with this elaborate green velvet getup. But this year, HM was back to playing it safe with diamonds and pearls.



To go with the full costume of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, it appears we have Queen Mary's Cluster Earrings (surprisingly easy to confuse with other earrings when in use, those are), plus The Queen's favorite pearl evening watch.

Queen Mary's Cluster Earrings
Pearl Evening Watch


Later, The Queen viewed a new portrait of herself commissioned to mark her 90th birthday, at Archers' Hall, Edinburgh.

Appropriate to unveil a portrait featuring the Thistle gear on Thistle day, I'd say. The new portrait is by artist Nicky Philipps and was commissioned by the Royal Company of Archers, The Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland. The Queen sat for the portrait at Windsor Castle, wearing her Thistle robes and Queen Victoria's Pearl Drop Earrings.

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06 July 2016

Holyrood Week: Visit to Dundee

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited Dundee for a day of engagements at Slessor Gardens, the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Dundee, the Michelin tire factory, and the City Chambers.

Another classic, as Holyrood Week rolls on. Tomorrow comes the event I've been most looking forward to: the Order of the Thistle service! Cross your fingers for emeralds.

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05 July 2016

Holyrood Week: Garden Party, Audience, and Investiture

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, The Earl of Wessex, and The Princess Royal, attended a Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
ITN screencaps
For more: Video here, photos here and here.

Here's the Jardine Star making its third appearance of the year (on an outfit that would look smashing with the Australian Wattle Brooch, I can't help but note), and here's HM adding another item to the list of 90th birthday presents:



The Queen also held an audience and an investiture today at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

I have not even a guess to wager here.
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04 July 2016

Holyrood Week: Audiences and Reception

The Queen received the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, for an audience at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

This brooch is really hard to make out (there's a video here, tell me what you think), but I daresay I'm more interested in that portrait of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother with the Order of the Thistle and the scrumptious Greville Emerald Necklace anyway. 

Update: Having seen the day's Court Circular, I feel quite certain that the brooch is the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Badge. The Queen also had an audience with members of the regiment.


Also today, The Queen hosted a reception to recognize public service in Scotland.

This brooch is much easier to make out, because there isn't one. Alas!

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03 July 2016

Holyrood Week: Church at Canongate Kirk

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended church at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh.

I never quite understand the point of wearing this one without its pearl pendant (when one has Albert's Sapphire to fulfill one's needs for a sapphire framed in diamonds), but this works very well here. Just keeping us on our toes, I suppose.

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02 July 2016

Holyrood Week: Opening of the Scottish Parliament

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, officially opened the Fifth Session of the Scottish Parliament, and delivered an address to the Parliament.
Scottish Parliament screencap
For more: BBC article.

How to step around a sticky political situation without getting sticky, the queenly way: "We all live and work in an increasingly complex and demanding world, where events and developments can, and do, take place at remarkable speed; and retaining the ability to stay calm and collected can at times be hard. As this Parliament has successfully demonstrated over the years, one hallmark of leadership in such a fast-moving world is allowing sufficient room for quiet thinking and contemplation, which can enable deeper, cooler consideration of how challenges and opportunities can be best addressed."

Video: The Queen's speech

Add to that an outfit in a truly tranquil shade and a brooch from the original Keep Calm and Carry On era, and you've got a mission accomplished. It's odd that her lapel so clearly covers the brooch, but it isn't the first time that's happened to this jewel.

Queen Mother's Palm Leaf Brooch
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01 July 2016

Holyrood Week: Arrival and Ceremony of the Keys

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, at the start of their annual week of Scottish engagements. Her Majesty was presented with the Keys of the City which she returned in the traditional Ceremony of the Keys. A Guard of Honor mounted in the Forecourt of the Palace was reviewed.

Once again, the Royal Regiment of Scotland Badge is the pick for HM's official arrival in Edinburgh, where she will undertake a week of engagements in Scotland while based at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. That's all very appropriate, since she reviews troops during the ceremony. But just as I was ready to say this lavender outfit would be perfection with an amethyst brooch...


I saw that she already had me covered when she stepped off the train. Bless.

Royal Regiment of Scotland Badge
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