From Her Majesty's Jewel Vault: February 2016

Photo: WPA Pool via Getty Images

23 February 2016

The Queen visited the construction of the Crossrail metro service and unveiled its new name at Bond Street station, London. Crossrail will be named the Elizabeth line in Her Majesty's honor when the service opens in 2018.

For more: Telegraph article and video, Zimbio gallery.

She dressed to match her new train line! This delights me to no end. (And not just because it happens to be my favorite color. She should dress to match everything that bears her name from here on out. It would be glorious.) You will note that the purple is also the perfect contrast to the neon orange uniforms of the workers in attendance, because Her Maj's team misses nothing.

After an unfortunate run of audiences with mystery brooches, we're back in action on the jewel front too. The Amethyst Bouquet Brooch is a favorite to pair with this repeated Angela Kelly lilac outfit.

Amethyst Bouquet Brooch

Photos: WPA Pool via Getty Images / Telegraph video screencap

20 February 2016

Flashback: State Visit to France, State Dinner, 1972

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh made one of their many trips to France in 1972, for a state visit complete with a state dinner given in The Queen's honor by President Pompidou at the Grand Trianon at Versailles.

Her favorite assembled pearl parure, the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara with the Duchess of Gloucester's Pendant Earrings and Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Necklace, were (and are) favorites of The Queen for state visits, so no surprise there. And of course she wore the red riband and star from France's Order of the Legion of Honour and her Royal Family Orders as well.

There was a surprise to be found in her jewelry selections, though: the brooch. This was perhaps the only time in her reign she wore the triple drop pearl and diamond brooch from Queen Alexandra's Wedding Parure in public, up until it reappeared in 2014. Why so long a wait? That's a mystery indeed.

What may have been more famous than the occasion here was her Hardy Amies dress. Or, rather, it would become more famous, as a few years later she wore it to sit for her Silver Jubilee portrait. Later interpreted by Andy Warhol and featured on the cover of a Sex Pistols album, the portrait would reach iconic status.

The dress is now featured in Kensington Palace's Fashion Rules Revisited exhibition, highlights of which were covered on the other blog earlier this month. Check out the video above for the story of the dress (plus some extra tidbits about one of Princess Margaret's saucy looks).

Photos: via Getty Images

18 February 2016

Audiences at Buckingham Palace

The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.

Queen Victoria's Bow Brooch

I think she's just messing with us now. Even so, I think I spy one of Queen Victoria's Bow Brooches on parade here. Agree?

Photo:via Getty Images

16 February 2016

Gold Service Scholarship and Audiences at Buckingham Palace

The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.

Not a big day for brooches here. First up, another brooch which is very nearly hiding from our view (ready with those guesses? Let me hear them!)...

Brooch

The Queen later attended the Gold Service Scholarship award ceremony at Claridge's Hotel, London.

And then the lack of a brooch for the evening event. She doesn't need one here, obviously - not with the fabric and the wide lapels on this lovely champagne suit - but I'm just saying.

The Queen greets @goldscholarship winner Jennifer Santner at the Gold Service Scholarship awards ceremony pic.twitter.com/n3RVSKsNRR
— BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) February 16, 2016

Photos: via Getty Images, Twitter

10 February 2016

Audiences at Buckingham Palace

The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.

Back to work and back to brooch mysteries. The nearly covered up brooch of the other day was easier to sort out than this one. Your thoughts?

Brooch

Photo: via Getty Images

08 February 2016

Return to London

The Queen departed King's Lynn via train at the end of her Sandringham break.

A bit of a tease to wear a brooch and then almost entirely cover it up, isn't it? I shall not be deterred; you can juuuuuust tell that the Pearl Trefoil is under there. Anyway, this is the gray outfit debuted when The Queen and The DoE visited the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany last year, but I'm noticing the shine and all that zipper-y trim a lot more this time around. Change the color and it might even be festive. Sometimes a change in context really can change the whole outfit.

Pearl Trefoil Brooch

Photo: via Getty Images

07 February 2016

Church in Norfolk

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended church at West Newton, Norfolk, near the Sandringham estate.

Ruby and Gold Flower Brooch

For more: Eastern Daily Press article and photos.

This should be the last church appearance of this Sandringham break, and we're going out with another interesting brooch and another step away from her Everyday Pearls. Jaunty little hat flourish, no?

Three Strand Pearl Necklace (Longer)

Photo: via Getty Images

06 February 2016

Visit From The Emir of Kuwait

February 5: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh received Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait at Sandringham House for a meeting and luncheon.

His Highness Amir visits Queen Elizabeth https://t.co/2zEfffdXqH pic.twitter.com/rTwwx21JVL
— kuwait news agency (@kuna_en) February 5, 2016

We almost never see photos from engagements at Sandringham - we're only seeing this one thanks to the Kuwaiti side so far - so this is a treat. And a double treat, because we get to see Her Maj's sapphire and pearl brooch, plus one of her longer triple strand necklaces. I do love this brooch.

Empress Marie Feodorovna's Sapphire Brooch

Three Strand Pearl Necklace (Longer)

04 February 2016

Norfolk Hospice Opening

The Queen formally opened The Norfolk Hospice, Tapping House, near Sandringham.

Mappin & Webb Orchid Brooch

For more: Telegraph video and article, Zimbio gallery.

As though she knew we needed something to cheer us on the day that the planned March state visit from Spain has been cancelled/postponed (argh, political problems in Spain), Her Maj emerges and brings out a new-ish brooch for us to gaze upon.

This is the third time we've seen the Mappin & Webb Orchid Brooch since its 2014 debut, and one appearance per year is actually pretty good for a new brooch. It has a bigger impact in video (see below) than I would have guessed, don't you think?

Much like Scottish engagements signalling the end of the Balmoral holiday, The Queen will soon be back to work after her Sandringham break. She usually stays until about the anniversary of her father's death, February 6th.

Photo:via Getty Images

02 February 2016

The Duchess of Cornwall at the British Asian Trust Gala

We need some serious bling right now, wouldn't you agree? The Duchess of Cornwall has us covered:

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended a reception and dinner for the British Asian Trust at the Natural History Museum, London.

For more: Zimbio gallery.

I was extremely excited to see Camilla's full Pear Drop Diamond Demi-Parure back in action tonight! It's been entirely too long since we last saw that glorious diamond necklace on display. The Duchess also wore her favorite diamond bracelet, usually said to have been The Queen Mother's.