12 December 2016

Audiences at Buckingham Palace

December 9: The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.

I missed this one last week, and we must correct that straight away. No Flame Lily appearance should be so ignored.

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08 December 2016

The 2016 Diplomatic Reception

The Queen hosted the annual Diplomatic Reception for ambassadors at Buckingham Palace. The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke of Cambridge, and The Duchess of Cambridge were also present. 


Okay, let's address the best thing first: THIS PHOTO. This is RARE, folks. Pictures from the Diplomatic Reception are often not published at all; a proper group shot like this is a first. I'd like to send a fruit basket to the person that convinced them to do it, but instead I shall just express my enthusiasm in ALL CAPS. WOW. 

 To the gems! 

 The Queen: Her Maj is LOVING her sapphires of late. She's worn this suite to both the Colombian state banquet this year and the Chinese state banquet last year. 

Modern Sapphire Bracelet
Evening Watch
 
The Duchess of Cornwall: It's business as usual for Camilla. This is exactly what she wore to the Colombian state banquet and almost completely what she wore to the State Opening of Parliament before that, dress and all. So, all her tiara appearances this year are essentially the same.

Greville Tiara
Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
Star, Riband, and Badge of the Royal Victorian Order
The Duchess of Cambridge: Kate is sporting the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara for the second time. She's also wearing the Diamond Pendant Earrings, her most recent vault loan (these go better with a tiara than her usual longer diamond earrings, I think), and is repeating the red Jenny Packham gown she wore to the Chinese state banquet.

Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara
Diamond Pendant Earrings
Wedding Gift Bracelet

The Gentlemen: This is one of the most formal events of the year, so the royal men wear knee breeches with the actual Garter from the Order of the Garter just below the knee. It's rare that we get to see this; this event is one of the last consistent examples of the Garter in use, but again, we don't always get to see inside.
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Audience at Buckingham Palace, and The Queen's Christmas Staff Luncheon

The Queen received the First Minister of Wales for a private audience at Buckingham Palace.
Royal Family video screencap
For more: Zimbio gallery.

A lovely chance to see the larger Nizam Rose Brooch in action, but this wasn't the sparkliest event of the day.




December 6: The Queen had a pre-Christmas lunch with her staff at the Goring Hotel. 

 Her Maj added the Pearl Trefoil Brooch to her pink suit for this festive event (and an unexpectedly lively event, too: the  party was interrupted by a drunk intruder). You can see her leaving the hotel here.
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07 December 2016

The Countess of Wessex Wears the Diamond and Gold Cuff Necklace

Another jewelry loan, we're on a roll...

The Countess of Wessex attended the Golden Hockey Ball.
Royal Family
The Countess of Wessex appeared this evening in the Diamond and Gold Cuff Necklace, a piece primarily worn by The Queen in the 1990s, and one not worn for several years. Sophie wore it with a repeated gray Bruce Oldfield gown. It looks bigger to me here - certainly more of a statement piece than it was in Her Maj's appearances - and while I don't love it with this gown, I do like it on Sophie.

Royal Family
The Countess of Wessex is gradually adding pieces to her repertoire. In the past few years, several jewels from The Queen's collection have appeared on Sophie, including the Silver Jubilee Pearl and Diamond Earrings, the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings, the Ruby Floret Earrings, the Five Aquamarine Tiara, the King Faisal Diamond Necklace. The vault continues to open. (Yay!)
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06 December 2016

The Duchess of Cornwall at the Royal Variety Performance

I'm here for the Camilla + diamond sightings. (And for Camilla informing Lady Gaga that she's also known as Gaga - to her grandkids.)

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended the Royal Variety Performance.
Ahhhhh, yes, those are some diamonds. This is the second time we've seen her Pear Drop Diamond Demi-Parure in full this year, and we also spotted the earrings at the recent state banquet. It never fails to dazzle in its simplicity, does it?
Funnily enough, the last time we saw this necklace - at the British Asian Trust Gala - we also saw this dress, pretty much, just in navy and black. As Kate stocks up on her Preen dresses, so Camilla stocks up on her lacy gowns, I guess. (This one must be by Bruce Oldfield too.)
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02 December 2016

Investiture at Windsor Castle

The Queen held an Investiture at Windsor Castle.
Sky screencaps

This is a great investiture brooch, easy for us to spot from the side and all. (Priorities.) The Queen must agree, because the last time we saw it was also at a Windsor Castle investiture ceremony.

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01 December 2016

Goodenough College Visit and Audiences

The Queen visited Goodenough College, London.
For more: Zimbio gallery.

'Twas a day for gold and rubies, I guess. Small rubies here...



The Queen also held audiences at Buckingham Palace

...larger ones here. She was without the Grima Ruby Brooch earlier this year - it was on display with her birthday fashion exhibition at the Palace of Holyroodhouse - and has now squeezed in two appearances for the year. She must be pleased to have it back.

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