31 May 2017

Drapers' Company Anniversary Visit

The Queen visited Drapers' Hall to mark the 70th anniversary of her admission to the Freedom of the Company.

While most of The Queen's symbolic badges are military in nature, she also has brooches representing other organizations, like the Drapers' Company Badge seen here (on Her Majesty as well as versions worn around the neck of other members at this event). This badge was last seen in 2012.

ITN screencap

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28 May 2017

Church at Balmoral

The Queen, accompanied by The Earl of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor, attended services at Crathie Church, Balmoral.

Her Maj was spotted up in Scotland today, a little getaway before the busiest month of the royal year, I suppose. The Queen and Prince Philip were spotted leaving Balmoral this time last year as well. The brooch, unsurprisingly, is a tough one, but I'm thinking Pearl Trefoil.

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25 May 2017

Visit to Manchester and the Duchy of Lancaster

The Queen visited victims of the recent Manchester terror attack at Manchester Children's Hospital. Afterward, The Queen, as Duke of Lancaster, visited Duchy of Lancaster Farms in Staffordshire.

Recycling one of her more fun color combinations is a great choice for a children's hospital visit. The visit itself, of course, is an even better choice.

Royal Family

And, after this week's garden party, she's continuing to replay Ascot 2016. (Perhaps she saw Princess Eugenie's take and an idea was born...) This orange and blue Angela Kelly outfit is also a good match for her Duchy of Lancaster Badge, which she wore to coordinate with her second visit of the day, in her capacity as Duke of Lancaster.

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24 May 2017

Order of the British Empire Centenary Service and Audiences at Buckingham Palace

The Queen, as Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, with The Duke of Edinburgh, Grand Master, attended a Service of the Order celebrating its 100th anniversary at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Royal Family

Welp, friends, I regret to inform you that we have a missed tiara opportunity on our hands. The Queen is Sovereign of the Order of the British Empire. As such, she has an extra grand mantle (robe) to wear for these services - and with all that regalia, she wears a tiara. (Which was on display when this service was last held, in 2012. See more on her OBE gear here.)

Except this year, while The Duke of Edinburgh and others wore their collars and mantles, Her Maj decided to skip it. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told the Daily Mail that it was The “Queen’s personal choice to wear day dress.” Her mantle has a train and requires a page boy to manage; though it's not as heavy as the mantles she uses for other orders, it would still make it harder to get around, and I'm guessing that's the reason for the downgrade.



So instead, we got a Stewart Parvin coat and dress with a Rachel Trevor Morgan hat and the Queen Mother's Diamond Palm Leaf Brooch. I love her coats that just fasten at the top to allow a look at the dress underneath, even if I am smarting a bit from the loss of a tiara.

Three Strand Pearl Necklace


May 23: The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace


Missed this one yesterday, and it's a rare spot, too. She's wearing the New Zealand Fern Brooch! We haven't seen The Queen wear this since 2012; since then, The Duchess of Cambridge has worn it and it did appear in a portrait. The Queen also received the High Commissioner of New Zealand yesterday, so this was no random brooch selection.

New Zealand Fern Brooch
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23 May 2017

Buckingham Palace Garden Party

The Queen and other members of the Royal Family held a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
ITN screencap

Today's garden party opened with a minute of silence for the victims of the terrible Manchester attack. There was plenty of disagreement on social media with the decision to hold the event, but the show - as it always must - went on, honoring some 8,000 people for service to their communities. (With a crowd this size, many of whom would have traveled in advance for the occasion, I suppose the logistics alone could have prompted the decision.)

Royal Family

Bright as the sun, The Queen recreated Day 1 of Ascot 2016, repeating both her Stewart Parvin/Rachel Trevor-Morgan ensemble and the golden brooch it went with.

Three Strand Pearl Necklace


Princess Eugenie, meanwhile, chipped in with a more youthful take on The Queen's memorable orange and blue outfit from Day 3 of Ascot 2016. Not a bad idea, but not a good execution.


If The Duchess of Cornwall hasn't worn this to Ascot yet, I'm sure she will at some point; it seems to be one of her favorites recently. Though she has used this outfit with brooches in the past, she kept it simple with a pearl choker today.

Four Strand Pearl Choker with Small Diamond Clasp
Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings
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22 May 2017

Chelsea Flower Show

The Queen and other members of the Royal Family visited the Chelsea Flower Show.
For more: Zimbio gallery.

Yup, it's an official tradition by now: Her Maj wore the Chelsea Iris Brooch for the fifth year running, which is each year since it was presented to her as a Diamond Jubilee gift by the Royal Horticultural Society. The Queen is their royal patron and has been since 1952.

Royal Family

Can we make Mary Berry sightings part of the tradition too, while we're at it? Or can we get a cooking show featuring Mary and Prince Philip, who does nothing but follow her around and make jokes about the terribleness of vegetables? He's gonna need something to do with his retirement, after all...


Three Strand Pearl Necklace

More on the fashions and the rest of the family at the other blog tomorrow, stay tuned!
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19 May 2017

Dinner at The Ivy

May 18: The Queen attended a private dinner at The Ivy restaurant, London, to celebrate a friend's birthday.

Party time! Her Maj looked lovely in her wrap for a rare night out, and - happily, for us - she made sure she didn't forget her jewels at home: big ruby and diamond earrings from Queen Mary, a double strand of pearls, fabulous bracelets, and a plethora of diamond rings.  People often think that she doesn't wear many rings, apart from her usual engagement and wedding set, but that's not really true. She's actually prone to adding several rings at a time for evening engagements. We just usually see her with evening gloves, so this goes unnoticed.


The Queen left carrying a custom purse with a photo on it. Though reports said at first the image was of Princess Margaret (as the above headline indicates), it turns out it's actually a portrait of Archduchess Helen of Austria, the birthday girl in question. Archduchess Helen was celebrating her 80th birthday and these were given to the guests.

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18 May 2017

Scots Guards New Colours Presentation and the Thistle and Rose Scots Guards Badge

The Queen, Colonel-in-Chief, presented New Colours to the 1st Battalion and F Company Scots Guards at Buckingham Palace. She was accompanied by The Duke of Kent, Colonel of the Regiment.
Sgt Rupert Frere RLC / MoD Crown Copyright

I'll turn to the Ministry of Defence's description of this event:

"As the heavens opened with soft penetrating rain reminiscent of the Highlands Her Majesty The Queen, Colonel-in-Chief Scots Guards, presented new Colours to the 1st Battalion Scots Guards and F Company Scots Guards in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace. The wisest of the 2,200 assembled guests endured the unrelenting downpour beneath umbrellas, others trusting the fine forecast and unprepared for a turn for the worse, bravely bore the torrent that ensued with typically good British humour. The presentation of new Colours is a rare honour for all soldiers and officers involved and this new set of Colours is the first the company has received since 2002.

"On the lawns in front of the Bow Room, Buckingham Palace, The Queen inspected the parade and presented the new Colours to The 1st Battalion and F Company Scots Guards. While bearskins dripped, and the shoulders of service dress turned a darker shade of khaki, the soldiers stood proud in front of their Colonel in Chief."


Thistle and Rose Scots Guards Badge

Thistle and Rose Scots Guards Badge
The Queen's brooch, which was partially obstructed by her lapel today, is an interesting take on the regimental badge. Though it is new to this blog from this appearance, it is not new to Her Majesty; she wore the same brooch in 2002, the last time she presented Colours to this regiment.

The brooch worn in 2002
The badge features one green thistle and one Tudor rose with its distinctive red petals and white center, with yellow gold and perhaps enamel. That symbol can also be seen in the example of the Scots Guards flag below.

The symbol shown on an example of the Scots Guards Regimental Colours
As with the rest of her regimental jewels, this brooch is reserved for regiment-related events, and is thus not seen often.
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16 May 2017

Garden Party and Audience at Buckingham Palace

The Queen and other members of the Royal Family held a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
Royal Family

Her Maj decided to kick off this year's garden parties with a pink brooch for soft pink outfit, and she wasn't the only one in a pastel mood today.

Three Strand Pearl Necklace

Royal Family
In a repeated Christopher Kane coat with a Lock & Co. hat - so, basically sporting an "lolz, soooo true" response to those that felt her coat for her recent Luxembourg trip was more of the same - The Duchess of Cambridge joined other members of the Royal Family for the garden party.


The Queen held an audience at Buckingham Palace.

Earlier on this two brooch day, The Queen chose Prince Albert's Sapphire to adorn a blue floral dress. Good thing she did, I think many of her regular diamond or pearl favorites would have disappeared.

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14 May 2017

Royal Windsor Horse Show

May 10-14: The Queen attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Home Park, Windsor.

As she does every year, The Queen was in casual mode for several days to join the fun happening in her backyard at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Just her engagement and wedding rings and one of her black strap watches were on display for these days.


The Queen does present some of the prizes and watch a display or two, and that's when the brooches come back out to play. On Saturday, it was Queen Victoria's Bow Brooch. This coat was originally worn with a more distinctive hat - interesting to see it paired with a more typical shape now. (Another view here.)

Queen Victoria's Bow Brooch
Pearl Stud Earrings
Single Strand Pearl Necklace 


And on Sunday, she continued to pull from Queen Victoria's legacy as Queen Victoria's 11 Pearl Brooch made its first 2017 appearance.
 
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09 May 2017

Pangbourne College Centenary and Audience

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited Pangbourne College, Berkshire, to celebrate its centenary.
Royal Family
For more: BBC article, Zimbio gallery.

So just in case the Flame Lily wasn't clear enough from the behind the wheel of her Jag, here you go!

Royal Family

Three Strand Pearl Necklace


Also today, The Queen received His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, His Grace Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Church, and Dean of Windsor The Right Reverend David Connor for private audience at Windsor Castle.
For more: Zimbio gallery.

Though pictures from today's other event are not so clear, it is probably also the Flame Lily. 

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08 May 2017

Church at Windsor

May 7: The Queen attended church at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor Park.

The internet does get a kick out of spotting Her Maj behind the wheel, and she's here to deliver. She's also delivering some serious brooch action - albeit partially obscured - in the form of what looks to be the Flame Lily Brooch.

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05 May 2017

Lunch and Investiture at Buckingham Palace

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Cambridge, welcomed Aung San Suu Kyi to Buckingham Palace for a lunch. Her Majesty also held an Investiture today.

The Cullinan V is back for its second appearance of the year and the filling in for Philip has begun, with William third wheeling it through these pics.

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04 May 2017

Order of Merit Service

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended a service for members of the Order of Merit at the Chapel Royal, St. James' Palace and afterwards gave a reception.

Lucky they had this engagement scheduled for today, because the world - the hysteria-prone social media world, specifically - apparently required evidence that Prince Philip is still kicking. What I wouldn't give for his take on the panic that followed leaked news of a staff meeting at Buckingham Palace this morning, including people speculating that news of The Duke's death was imminent (despite all this occurring just hours after he'd been in fine form on an engagement yesterday).

Royal Family
So yes, the big news today is that the 95-year-old Duke of Edinburgh will retire from public duties in the autumn. I'd say that's a well-deserved rest for a man that's logged 22,191 solo engagements since 1952, according to the palace. In the mean time, he's still got it:

 Guest at today's reception: "I'm sorry to hear that you're standing down."
Prince Philip: "Well I can't stand up much longer!"

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03 May 2017

Return to Buckingham Palace

The Queen returned to Buckingham Palace from Windsor Castle.

The Queen came back to London in time for a visit from the Prime Minister to mark the dissolution of Parliament (an audience without any pictures from inside, it seems), and while there's not a lot to see here, I do like an occasional casual glimpse.

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