04 November 2016

The Jewels of The Crown, Episodes 1-3

The Crown, Netflix's new miniseries about the life of Queen Elizabeth II, is now available for streaming!


It's a gorgeous series. Claire Foy sold me on her portrayal of Elizabeth from her first scene, when she got the hand clasping just right (it sounds like a minor detail, but - thanks to this little blog - I've watched plenty of videos of The Queen in audiences and investitures, and I recognized it immediately). Matt Smith was a little harder to buy as The Duke of Edinburgh, until he nailed Philip's attempted jokes in a receiving line. John Lithgow's Winston Churchill might just be the best of them all.

I'm three episodes in, and loving it so far. Some people are sticklers for absolute historical accuracy in this kind of thing. I'm not; they're dramatizations for a reason, it's only understandable that the story gets altered. I am, however, a stickler for the details, and it won't surprise you that the accuracy of the jewels is the thing that tends to bug me first. In this case, though? They've taken great care with the details, more care than I usually see in a royal drama.

They've reproduced several famous pieces of The Queen's jewelry, and I'll be recapping those identifiable pieces here. Jewels on film are tricky. Fake stuff pretty much always looks like fake stuff, that's just the way it goes. So I judge based on how much attention a film pays to what really would have been worn, and not just on how closely they match the originals.

First up: Episodes 1-3. I'd issue a spoiler alert, but...well, you should know the story by now.


Episode 1: Photos of the cast filming the wedding were among the first looks at this production, and they immediately highlighted one of the trickiest parts about copying the jewels: the scale. But those photos also highlighted for me the amount of care they were taking with the jewelry, based simply on the fact that they even bothered to reproduce the Duchess of Teck Earrings in this much detail. Also represented here are the Queen Anne and Queen Caroline Pearl Necklaces, along with Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, which looked great.


Episode 1: Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary are pretty much spot on in the jewel department. The Queen Mother did wear Queen Alexandra's Wedding Necklace and Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Brooch; Queen Mary did wear the Cullinan III and IV Brooch.


Episode 1: Ah, the Flower Basket Brooch! An essential, and this is absolutely the era when Princess Elizabeth would have worn it all the time.


Episode 2: That's an impressively faithful copy of the intricate Flame Lily Brooch (if a little on the big side) and it's a crucial one to nail as she returns to the United Kingdom after becoming queen.


Episode 3:  A bow brooch is essential, even if this one isn't identifiable as any in the real collection.


Episode 3: This would be the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara worn with Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Necklace. That seems a herculean task, copying that busy necklace, right? For the attempt alone, they have my respect.


To be continued... Jewel recaps of the next episodes are coming up later. Feel free to chat about the series as a whole here, and don't miss it streaming on Netflix now!

Photos: Netflix
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03 November 2016

State Visit from Colombia, Farewell, and a Visit to Newmarket

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh bid farewell to the President of Colombia and Mrs. Santos as they left Buckingham Palace during their State Visit to the United Kingdom.
ITNSource screencap
There's no brooch! But don't worry, we'll get to it.


The Queen later visited Newmarket, where she unveiled her 90th birthday gift from the town, a statue of herself with two horses. She also opened the new National Heritage Center for Horseracing and Sporting Art.
For more: Zimbio gallery.

She just left it on her jacket, see. I love the idea of her wearing a gift from her parents when enjoying a day celebrating her support of racing, which is an inherited interest. Not that she needs a reason to wear this favorite gem, of course.

Three Strand Pearl Necklace

This trip reunited Her Maj with two of her former racehorses, and they seemed excited to see her and/or her carrots:
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02 November 2016

Pitch@Palace and Audience at Buckingham Palace

The Queen joined The Duke of York at an event for Pitch@Palace, which was founded by The Duke to support entrepreneurs.
Well, I guess we really are in the mood for the Ruby and Gold Flower Brooch - that's two days in a row! This is a new brooch to pair with this outfit, but she does usually go for brooches that are heavily gold with this one.
Three Strand Pearl Necklace


 UPDATE:
Earlier, The Queen held an audience at Buckingham Palace.

Hard to see, but a classic in action.

Queen Victoria's Bow Brooch

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01 November 2016

State Visit from Colombia, Welcome Ceremony and State Banquet

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh welcomed the President of the Republic of Colombia and Mrs. Santos at the beginning of the President's State Visit to the United Kingdom.
This is one of those times when I would love to be privy to the reasons behind a particular brooch selection, because rubies - the Ruby and Gold Flower Brooch, which has no known connection to these guests - are the last thing I would have paired with this outfit. They're not really that noticeable, I guess.
ITN screencap
Usually, The Queen just takes off her coat once inside with her guests (and, later, inspecting the state banquet setup), but by the time they reviewed the special Royal Collection exhibit with their Colombian guests, she had a total outfit change. She went ahead and leaned into the ruby theme with the Grima Ruby Brooch.
Royal Family Twitter

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall also assisted with the welcome ceremony. Camilla's got the green stones The Queen was missing: 
This Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch is one we haven't had a chance to cover here yet (it comes from Queen Alexandra), but it's a perfect match for her deep green outfit. A winner, and paired with her favorite pearl pendant earrings and her usual assortment of bracelets. She did receive a pair of emerald earrings when she and The Prince of Wales visited Colombia a couple years ago, but these were on display with the rest of exhibits, so sadly weren't worn.


The Queen, along with other members of the Royal Family, gave a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in the President's honor.
For more: Zimbio gallery.
We haven't seen a tiara event in a while, and I can't tell you how delighted I am that it's one of the colored stone options instead of one of the usual favorites! Her Maj's been dipping into those more often in the past couple years (she wore this one just last year for the China state banquet), and I love the variety. Her sapphire parure also picks up very nicely on the blue in the Order of Boyaca from Colombia, so that's well played.
(Many have also asked which orders the men are wearing. The Duke of Edinburgh also has the Order of Boyaca, I would imagine in a lower grade without the grand collar. The President has been given the Order of the Bath, which is often given to presidents when orders are exchanged.)

Collar and Star of the Order of Boyaca
Evening Watch


Besides, we've always got Camilla to hold down the white stone fort. Is it just me, or all these Greville Tiara + White Dress + Pearl Choker appearances starting to blend together?
British Monarchy screencaps
With the exception of the earrings, this is the same dress and jewels we saw at this year's State Opening of Parliament, which is the same as the State Opening the year before that. I mean, it suits her well, but I do like to complain.
Diamond Bracelet
Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
Star, Riband, and Badge of the Royal Victorian Order


UPDATE: We now have video of The Queen's speech - observe her sparkly dress!

And with video comes a glimpse at some of the other royal ladies in attendance. (There are also additional tiaras in the video above worn by others, and maybe a glimpse of Princess Michael of Kent, but it's hard to tell.)

British Monarchy screencap
Princess Alexandra of Kent wore the Ogilvy Tiara in its pearl setting. She wears the sash of the Order of the Garter.

British Monarchy screencaps
I wish we had a better look at The Duchess of Gloucester, in the red dress, because she wore the Iveagh Tiara and we don't get to see that in use often. She's wearing the sash of the Royal Victorian Order.
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27 October 2016

Visit to Poundbury

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, visited Poundbury, The Prince of Wales' urban development.

If you're unveiling a statue of The Queen Mother - which she was, at Queen Mother Square - then you wear one of The Queen Mother's brooches. Done and done. She also visited a supermarket, because sometimes you have to throw the caption writers a bone.




The Duchess of Cornwall sported one of her signature pearl chokers and had her own photo op later in the day, when she pulled a pint of "The Duchess" beer while opening an inn named The Duchess Of Cornwall.

Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp
Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings
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25 October 2016

Investiture at Buckingham Palace

The Queen held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace.
BBC screencap
For more: BBC video.

'Tis always a good day when a brooch can be spotted at an investiture.
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20 October 2016

Audiences at Buckingham Palace

The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.

Anytime we can see a brooch at these audiences feels like a minor miracle. Okay, it's not exactly easy to see this brooch, but it is there and it is the pink sapphire and we will take it.

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