The Queen's annual message was broadcast on Christmas Day.
There's no big royal gathering, no fashion parade to church and back, but there is still a message and a brooch (and some lovely purple). Happy holidays to you and yours!
25 December 2020
20 December 2020
Virtual Audiences
December 10: The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace via video link from Windsor Castle.
A colorful pair of recent appearances at more rounds of virtual diplomatic audiences, first some lovely amethysts...
December 18: The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace via video link from Windsor Castle.
...and then the colorful Flower Basket.
16 December 2020
KPMG Virtual Visit
Last week, The Queen paid a virtual visit to KPMG to mark the firm's 150th anniversary.
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| Royal Family |
It's a visit in casual mode! Or at least what passes for casual mode by Her Maj's standards: a cardigan, only two strands of pearls and simpler pearl earrings. Getting more casual for your work calls the longer you stay at home, relatable. (And a little technical glitch to overcome during this call, also relatable.)
08 December 2020
Salvation Army Band at Windsor Castle
The Queen, joined by The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Earl and Countess of Wessex, and The Princess Royal, listened to a performance by the Salvation Army Band in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle, part of an event to thank local volunteers and key workers.
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| Royal Family |
I truly thought The Queen had gone all out with a candy cane striped scarf here and I think I'll just stick to that interpretation. Rubies were certainly in order, anyway.
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| Royal Family |
In other jewel sightings from this event, The Duchess of Cornwall went with her favorite earrings and her pair of pansy brooches to complement her lovely purple coat.
And The Duchess of Cambridge opted for the big Diamond Pendant Earrings on loan from The Queen to round things out.
04 December 2020
Virtual Audiences
The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace via video link from Windsor Castle.
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| Royal Family |
Diplomatic audiences are an old tradition but today they got a new pandemic spin: incoming ambassadors came to Buckingham Palace to present their credentials to a screen Queen, who greeted them live from her bubble at Windsor.
30 November 2020
Commonwealth Points of Light Award Call
Last week: The Queen spoke to winners of the Commonwealth Points of Light award.
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| Royal Family |
Work at Windsor continues, with the small rubies on the Gold Trellis Brooch picking up on the red of this color blocked dress.
19 November 2020
73rd Wedding Anniversary
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh look at an anniversary card made by Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, alongside other cards and letters sent by well-wishers to celebrate their 73rd wedding anniversary tomorrow.
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| Chris Jackson/Getty Images |
Never one to miss a connection, The Queen is bringing back a brooch worn in two notable photographs of the couple: the Sapphire Chrysanthemum, worn for their honeymoon photo and for the recreation of that photo released for their 60th wedding anniversary (both seen in the brooch post linked below). Very sweet.
08 November 2020
Remembrance Sunday and Centenary of the Burial of the Unknown Warrior
The Queen and members of the Royal Family attended the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph, London. The service honors those that have died in armed conflicts.
Remembrance services continued with modified pandemic protocols and The Queen watched from a balcony as she has done for the past few years. She anchored her cluster of poppies with the Dorset Bow Brooch, a frequent selection for this event.
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| ITV screencaps |
The Prince of Wales led the royal party on the ground, laying wreaths at the monument from himself and on behalf of The Queen. The Duke of Cambridge, The Princess Royal, The Earl of Wessex, and The Duke of Kent followed suit.
The socially distanced Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge watched from another balcony. The Duchess of Cornwall took over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of The Rifles from The Duke of Edinburgh, and here she wears a Rifles brooch. It appears to be the same one she wore in her recently released new portrait. Clarence House noted the brooch was commissioned by The Rifles. She paired this with a favorite choker and earrings, while The Duchess of Cambridge wore the Silver Jubilee Diamond and Pearl Earrings.
November 4: The Queen visited Westminster Abbey for a ceremony to mark the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior.
18 October 2020
New Canadian Portrait
Canada has released a new portrait of The Queen.
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| Chris Jackson/Getty Images via Government of Canada |
Canada brought us a sort of a surprise tiara appearance for the week, and I'll take whatever form of tiara appearance I can get right now. This new portrait was taken in March 2019 at Windsor Castle. The Queen is in her full sapphire glory, with the necklace and earrings given to her as a wedding gift by her father, the tiara and bracelet she later added to the collection, an evening watch, and her usual rings. She is also wearing her Order of Canada and Order of Military Merit insignia.
17 October 2020
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Visit
October 15: The Queen, with The Duke of Cambridge, visited the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down and formally opened the new Energetics Analysis Centre.
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| Ministry of Defence |
I thought it would be a good while longer before we saw The Queen venture out of her bubble, but here she is, at her first external engagement in around seven months. And the media focus seems to have been primarily on the decision not to wear masks for the visit. (Here's an article breaking it down but tl;dr, everybody had negative Covid tests, it was socially distanced, doctors were consulted.)
Anyway, it's the Grima Ruby and a "Stewart Parvin old rose cashmere coat and silk dress of autumnal woodland florals with a matching hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan" for the big reappearance.
09 October 2020
World Sight Day Call
To mark World Sight Day 2020,
The Queen joined The Countess of Wessex for a video call earlier this week with eye health professionals working on the ground to deliver eye care across the Commonwealth.
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| Royal Family |
She's back! This is the first time we've seen The Queen since she departed Windsor Castle for Balmoral and then Sandringham. She returned to Windsor this week and welcomed us back as well with some great sapphire brooch action.
27 July 2020
Call with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
July 24: The Queen made a virtual visit to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office via video call, to hear about their response to the coronavirus outbreak and see the unveiling of a new portrait.
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| Royal Family |
Not the easiest brooch to see on a patterned dress and not the easiest via video either, but we do have a 2020 sighting of the delicate Women of Hampshire Brooch here.
Two Strand Pearl Necklace
Plus, the virtually unveiled portrait offered a bonus brooch of its own: the Cambridge Pearl Pendant.
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| Royal Family |
Plus, the virtually unveiled portrait offered a bonus brooch of its own: the Cambridge Pearl Pendant.
18 July 2020
The Wedding of Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
July 17: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended the wedding of HRH Princess Beatrice and Mr. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor.
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| Benjamin Wheeler/Royal Family |
As promised, a couple photos from Princess Beatrice's wedding were released in time for the Sunday papers. Her entire bridal look is a total surprise to me!
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Norman Hartnell managed to rack up another royal wedding gown four decades after his death, as Beatrice chose to wear a gown from her grandmother's archives. The Queen wore this Hartnell dress to the State Opening of Parliament in 1967. It was changed for this occasion, with alternations and fitting done by Angela Kelly and Stewart Parvin. It's such a great dress for Beatrice. I love the sleeves - and of course the whole idea of digging into The Queen's dress archive is so sweet.
The dress also goes perfectly with her surprise tiara choice: Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, on loan from The Queen and worn by QEII herself on her own wedding day! I love a fringe tiara, so I'm thrilled to see this one in action again. It was also Princess Anne's wedding tiara.
And as for The Queen herself, she wore the same outfit we covered for yesterday's investiture, with the Rose Gold Brooch.
Update: The Royal Family released two additional images.
Embed from Getty Images
Norman Hartnell managed to rack up another royal wedding gown four decades after his death, as Beatrice chose to wear a gown from her grandmother's archives. The Queen wore this Hartnell dress to the State Opening of Parliament in 1967. It was changed for this occasion, with alternations and fitting done by Angela Kelly and Stewart Parvin. It's such a great dress for Beatrice. I love the sleeves - and of course the whole idea of digging into The Queen's dress archive is so sweet.
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| Benjamin Wheeler/Royal Family |
The dress also goes perfectly with her surprise tiara choice: Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, on loan from The Queen and worn by QEII herself on her own wedding day! I love a fringe tiara, so I'm thrilled to see this one in action again. It was also Princess Anne's wedding tiara.
And as for The Queen herself, she wore the same outfit we covered for yesterday's investiture, with the Rose Gold Brooch.
Update: The Royal Family released two additional images.
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| Benjamin Wheeler/Royal Family |
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| Benjamin Wheeler/Royal Family |
17 July 2020
Investiture at Windsor Castle
The Queen conferred the Honour of Knighthood on Captain Tom Moore, a World War II veteran who raised over £32 million for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic, at an Investiture at Windsor Castle.
A special outdoor ceremony for a special knighthood on a special day! Of course Princess Beatrice was married earlier, with The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh leaving lockdown to attend. It looks like this outfit and brooch were worn for that too.
Three Strand Pearl Necklace
(Since it seems we will have photo(s) from the wedding later, it will have its own post at that time.)
(Since it seems we will have photo(s) from the wedding later, it will have its own post at that time.)
15 July 2020
Call With Members of the Armed Forces
In video released July 14th, The Queen spoke via video call to service personnel from the British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force to hear about the work of the British Armed Forces at home and overseas during the pandemic.
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| Royal Family screencap |
Sneaking in a few extra pearls when she can, much appreciated. It's even been a few years since we've seen this Queen Victoria gem in use.
13 June 2020
The Queen's Official Birthday and Other Updates from Windsor Castle
June 13: A pared down military ceremony celebrating The Queen's Official Birthday was held at Windsor Castle.
It's the first time since 1955 that Trooping the Colour hasn't been held in its traditional form, replaced by a socially distanced ceremony by the Welsh Guards. The Queen, who is the Battalion’s Colonel-in-Chief, wore her diamond leek badge.
June 11: The Queen and The Princess Royal participated in a video conference call for Carers Week.
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| Royal Family |
Wouldn't be a quarantine without learning the video call ropes. Jewelry-wise, it's her usual Windsor Castle picks, a Single Strand Pearl Necklace and what looks to be simple Pearl Stud Earrings.
June 9: Buckingham Palace released a photograph of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle, to mark His Royal Highness' 99th birthday on June 10.
The Cullinan V Brooch and one of her Black Strap Watches joined in for The Duke's birthday photo.
May 30/31: The Queen was pictured riding in Windsor Home Park.
Embed from Getty Images
Candid shots of The Queen out riding aren't really rare, but a planned photo op with the Press Association kind of is. Anyway, no jewels here but we won't miss an opportunity to say hello to Balmoral Fern, a 14-year-old Fell Pony.
June 9: Buckingham Palace released a photograph of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle, to mark His Royal Highness' 99th birthday on June 10.
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| Royal Family |
The Cullinan V Brooch and one of her Black Strap Watches joined in for The Duke's birthday photo.
May 30/31: The Queen was pictured riding in Windsor Home Park.
Embed from Getty Images
Candid shots of The Queen out riding aren't really rare, but a planned photo op with the Press Association kind of is. Anyway, no jewels here but we won't miss an opportunity to say hello to Balmoral Fern, a 14-year-old Fell Pony.
08 May 2020
VE Day 75th Anniversary Address
The Queen gave an address to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The address aired exactly 75 years after her father King George VI's address marking the end of World War II in Europe.
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| Royal Family screencap |
The items surrounding The Queen are often directly tied to her message, and that was certainly true for the background to today's touching speech: a portrait of her father in uniform, the cap from her Auxiliary Territorial Service uniform, and a photograph of the Royal Family and Winston Churchill on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on VE Day.
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The Queen's choice of brooch for this address also reached back to that time; the Aquamarine Clip Brooches were a gift in 1944. (It's big return for the Clips, which have fallen off in sightings sharply in the last two years.) Her mother, Queen Elizabeth, chose aquamarines on VE Day, wearing the Aquamarine Art Deco Brooch on the balcony.
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| The Queen's ATS cap Royal Family |
Embed from Getty Images
The Queen's choice of brooch for this address also reached back to that time; the Aquamarine Clip Brooches were a gift in 1944. (It's big return for the Clips, which have fallen off in sightings sharply in the last two years.) Her mother, Queen Elizabeth, chose aquamarines on VE Day, wearing the Aquamarine Art Deco Brooch on the balcony.
05 April 2020
Coronavirus Address
The Queen addressed the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in a special broadcast recorded at Windsor Castle.
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| BBC screencap |
The Queen has made televised addresses on four prior occasions: the Diamond Jubilee in 2012; the death of The Queen Mother in 2002; the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997; and the Gulf War in 1991. Today's message - filmed at Windsor in a room large enough to allow enough space between Her Majesty and the cameraperson according to coronavirus protocols - was one of comfort and strength. You can watch below.
18 March 2020
Audience at Buckingham Palace and Upcoming Event Information
The Queen received the outgoing and incoming Commanding Officers of the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth for a private audience at Buckingham Palace.
There were a bunch of reports that last weekend's usual visit to Windsor Castle (including a church outing wearing what appeared to be the Nizam of Hyderabad Rose Brooch) was going to turn into a long term stay for The Queen, and those reports were wrong - but not by much. She returned to Buckingham Palace for a few previously scheduled audiences this week (the Press Association reported there were no handshakes during today's meeting) while the palace announced a bunch of changes to the upcoming schedule due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Engagement and Wedding Rings
The Queen will head to Windsor for the start of her annual Easter break tomorrow, a week earlier than planned, and she will likely stay there longer than the usual Easter period. Future audiences will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Public events with large gatherings have been cancelled, including the Royal Maundy Service and the season's garden parties. Investitures will be rescheduled. Decisions are still pending on events such as the State Visit from the Emperor and Empress of Japan, Trooping the Colour, and the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.
Buckingham Palace has also just announced that Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have cancelled their wedding reception scheduled for May 29 in the Buckingham Palace gardens. The couple are considering whether they will hold a private wedding with a small group.
We will cover The Queen's upcoming events when and as possible, but it's probably going to be pretty quiet around here for a while! Stay well, everyone.
The Queen will head to Windsor for the start of her annual Easter break tomorrow, a week earlier than planned, and she will likely stay there longer than the usual Easter period. Future audiences will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Public events with large gatherings have been cancelled, including the Royal Maundy Service and the season's garden parties. Investitures will be rescheduled. Decisions are still pending on events such as the State Visit from the Emperor and Empress of Japan, Trooping the Colour, and the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.
Buckingham Palace has also just announced that Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have cancelled their wedding reception scheduled for May 29 in the Buckingham Palace gardens. The couple are considering whether they will hold a private wedding with a small group.
We will cover The Queen's upcoming events when and as possible, but it's probably going to be pretty quiet around here for a while! Stay well, everyone.
11 March 2020
Audience at Buckingham Palace
The received Professor Mark Compton, Lord Prior of the Order of St. John, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he presented Her Majesty with the Order's first ever Service Medal in Gold.
This is not a new dress for Her Maj, but the surprise of seeing her in such bold color blocking is always fresh. And I can never get enough of a double clip brooch.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
10 March 2020
Audiences at Buckingham Palace
The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.
I suspect the Pearl Triangle has been the choice on some of the days we've not been able to see the brooch for sure, but it's peeking out juuuust enough today.
09 March 2020
Commonwealth Day
The Queen and other members of the Royal Family attended the Commonwealth Day observance service at Westminster Abbey.
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| Westminster Abbey |
The 2020 debut of the Jardine Star!
You know, I really like this soft blue outfit of Her Maj's, but seeing all four of these ladies actually makes me wish she'd gone purple like last year or something, to complete the saturated color story. (And not just because I always vote for purple.) I like the way the green-red-navy lineup works.
08 March 2020
Audience at Buckingham Palace
March 5: The Queen presented Lorna Goodison with the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry during an audience at Buckingham Palace.
One of last year's favorites makes its 2020 debut, pendant and all! The Queen was also pictured arriving at Windsor and attending church this weekend, with no brooch love for us to cover.
04 March 2020
Audiences at Buckingham Palace
The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.
Juuuust enough here to make out the Ruby and Gold Flower Brooch on this great bright red dress. The Royal Family did put out some video of one of the audiences, with the President of Malta, though I didn't find it a great help in terms of seeing the brooch.
03 March 2020
Investiture at Buckingham Palace and Church at Windsor
The Queen held an Investiture at Buckingham Palace.
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| ITV screencap |
Today's investiture made headlines because The Queen chose to wear gloves as (reportedly) a coronavirus precaution. And those headlines meant video from the event was picked up and that's our only chance to see investiture brooches, so we'll take it!
Three Strand Pearl Necklace
March 1: The Queen attended church at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor Park.
Her Maj was also spotted at church this weekend, pairing the deep blue of Prince Albert's Sapphire with a turquoise outfit - somewhat unusual for her, I would more often expect a lighter blue here. (More photos available here.)
Prince Albert's Sapphire Brooch
March 1: The Queen attended church at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor Park.
Her Majesty attended the service alone 👑 https://t.co/EPjKq7d30r— HELLO! (@hellomag) March 2, 2020
Her Maj was also spotted at church this weekend, pairing the deep blue of Prince Albert's Sapphire with a turquoise outfit - somewhat unusual for her, I would more often expect a lighter blue here. (More photos available here.)
Prince Albert's Sapphire Brooch
28 February 2020
Audiences at Buckingham Palace
February 27: The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.
A pearl, perhaps. All yours for the guessing.
Unidentified Brooch
25 February 2020
MI5 Visit and Church at Windsor
The Queen visited MI5, Britain's domestic security agency, at Thames House in London.
I'll never call this brooch a personal favorite, but it's a really nice pick here. Just a touch of ruby but not enough to clash a bright red with the darker coat. And it's one we didn't see at all last year.
Three Strand Pearl Necklace
February 23: The Queen attended church at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor Park.
This one looks pretty dark in photos, but it will be the first appearance for the year of the pink sapphire, just in a tricky shot.
Small Pink and Diamond Brooch
February 23: The Queen attended church at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, Windsor Park.
This one looks pretty dark in photos, but it will be the first appearance for the year of the pink sapphire, just in a tricky shot.
Small Pink and Diamond Brooch
19 February 2020
Royal National ENT and Eastman Hospitals Opening
The Queen opened the new premises of the Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals in London.
Bonus close up today, showing this is the "newer" of the two Amethyst Bouquet Brooches.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
18 February 2020
Audiences at Buckingham Palace
The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.
Hard to tell as ever, but I'm going with the Kent Amethyst here.
February 13: The Queen held audiences at Buckingham Palace.
And maybe also here? Too tough to call this one.
11 February 2020
Wolferton Pumping Station Visit and Return to London
February 5: The Queen opened the new Wolferton Pumping Station in Norfolk. The Queen's father, King George VI, opened the original station on February 2, 1948.
February 11: The Queen departed King's Lynn via train at the end of her Sandringham break.
Embed from Getty Images
The Queen missed church on Sunday because of "public safety concerns due to high winds" in the area, so her Sandringham break closes out with one appearance absent a brooch and one too bundled up to tell.
03 February 2020
Visit to RAF Marham
The Queen, Honorary Air Commodore, visited Royal Air Force Marham in Norfolk.
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| Royal Family |
For Her Maj's first official public engagement of 2020, we've got texture, we've got color, we've got pattern - and we've even got the return of Queen Victoria's Bow Brooch! This brooch is usually a popular choice but has fallen off the radar recently, appearing just once in 2019.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
02 February 2020
Church in Norfolk
The Queen attended church at West Newton, Norfolk, near the Sandringham estate.
The Sapphire Jubilee Snowflake had three appearances last year and I don't know about you, but I could definitely do with more of it this year.
26 January 2020
Church at Sandringham
The Queen attended church at Sandringham, Norfolk.
Twice in one month! The Singapore brooch is ready is for a return to the annual favorites list.
19 January 2020
Church in Norfolk
The Queen attended at St. Mary the Virgin church in Hillington, Norfolk, near the Sandringham estate.
Absolutely love this coat, but I gotta say, I think this is a brooch mismatch.
12 January 2020
Church at Sandringham
The Queen attended church at Sandringham, Norfolk.
The Singapore brooch is getting an early jump on the 2020 brooch stakes at church today. The Queen was also seen driving herself around Sandringham earlier this week, thanks to the added media attention because of, you know, *gestures widely*.
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