Showing posts with label 4 Strand Diamond Large. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4 Strand Diamond Large. Show all posts

13 March 2017

Commonwealth Day and Baton Relay Launch

Double brooch day!

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh and The Earl of Wessex, launched the XXI Commonwealth Games Baton Relay outside Buckingham Palace.

Kicking off on a bright note, the outfit is a delight but the brooch is not the best (this is the second time we've seen it in a month, which is more than enough for me). I preferred this cerise Stewart Parvin coat with the Diamond and Rose Gold Brooch.

Royal Family
Three Strand Pearl Necklace


The Queen and other members of the Royal Family attended the Commonwealth Day observance service at Westminster Abbey.

Keeping the brightness going, this Angela Kelly outfit wasn't just a spot of sunshine in a sea of dark suits, it was the perfect background for a wonderful brooch surprise: the Australian Wattle! The brooch hasn't been seen in action since 2014. Sooooo many diamonds. Watch how it glints in this video, towards the end. You can't even see the entire thing, and yet it's like a strobe light on her shoulder. Yum.

BBC



The Duchess of Cornwall also pulled a double jewel day. 

Her favorite Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp accompanied her purple suit for the Commonwealth service. Later, when she and The Prince of Wales attended the Commonwealth Secretary's reception, the suit was the same and the jewels were swapped out for her set of pansy brooches, always a favorite with this outfit.
Clarence House

No complaints about the purple theme here, you know. (The Queen is usually the one that attends this reception, but Charles and Camilla took her place this year.)

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.

13 November 2016

Remembrance Sunday

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by other members of the Royal Family, attended the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph, London. The service honors those that have died in armed conflicts.
Sgt Ross Tilly/UK MoD Crown Copyright

The Queen kept things simple at today's service, holding her traditional cluster of poppies with her favorite bow brooch.

Three Strand Pearl Necklace


As always, she was joined by several members of the Royal Family in uniform to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph.
Sgt Ross Tilly/UK MoD Crown Copyright

And other members of the Royal Family watched from the balcony above:
Sgt Ross Tilly/UK MoD Crown Copyright
The Duchess of Cornwall  wore again her Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp, along with her Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings. Her brooch is a regimental badge from her late father's regiment, and it formerly belonged to The Queen Mother. The Countess of Wessex also wore a regimental badge, from the Rifles.

Interestingly, The Duchess of Cambridge has been loaned another piece from The Queen's jewel vault: the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings. These earrings were created using pearls given to Princess Elizabeth as a wedding gift. Much like the Silver Jubilee earrings recently worn by Kate, this pair has been loaned to Sophie in the past. They've also been worn fairly recently worn by The Queen herself, who chose them for last year's Festival of Remembrance.

12 November 2016

Festival of Remembrance

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by other members of the Royal Family, attended the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

An interesting brooch choice from The Queen tonight: the Bronte Porcelain Brooch, which has seen one appearance a year since its 2014 debut. It seems a bit of a busy brooch for anchoring a poppy, but then most do (apart from the bow brooches, of course, which are her most popular pick for the job).

BBC
Engagement and Wedding Rings 



The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall returned from their tour of Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain just in time to join the large group of royal family members also present for the Festival. Camilla wore her favorite pearl choker these days, the Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp, as well as a large pearl bracelet she's worn before.

BBC

For more images from this year's Festival of Remembrance, click here. We'll have another post on Sunday covering the traditional service at the Cenotaph.

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

18 June 2016

Royal Ascot, Day 5

The Queen honored Ascot Races with her presence today.

Royal Ascot ends how it began: with one of The Queen's favorite brooches.


It ends on a high note for The Queen, too: after needing to put down one of her horses following an accident earlier in the week, she had a winner today! Her horse Dartmouth won the Hardwicke Stakes.


Her outfit today is a repeat from her arrival in Germany last year, with a hat by Angela Kelly and a coat and dress by Peter Enrione. Enrione, 74 and known to The Queen as "Mr. Peter", has been Her Maj's tailor since the 1980s and still works up her outfits on his pre-war sewing machine.
Three Strand Pearl Necklace

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are really into Royal Ascot this year - which, obviously, I love - and they were present to watch another of their horses race today. This is really one of the best hats in Camilla's collection, don't you think? Very classic, very sharp.


And very many bonus points to her for managing to squeeze in some Ascot brooch fun of her own !


Diamond Moth Brooch
Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp
Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings


That's a wrap for Royal Ascot 2016! Let's round this brooch festival up (you can click here to scroll through the posts for all five days):

From an old favorite...


To something new...


Something blue...


Something "borrowed"...


And back again.


From a brooch perspective: We're halfway through the year and we haven't had that many brooch surprises, so I'm doubly glad that Ascot gave us something new. The Cartier Diamond Rose Clip Brooch is one of the prettiest brooches she's debuted in recent years, and it will stand as my highlight from Ascot 2016.

From an outfit perspective: We're not going to forget that orange and blue number anytime soon, are we?! I have to give it to Angela Kelly on Day 2 also, I like that budding branch embellishment more every time I look at it.

What are your highlights from this year?

Photos: More4 screencaps and via Getty Images as indicated

17 June 2016

Royal Ascot, Day 4

The Queen honored Ascot Races with her presence today.

Those of you that had the Centenary Rose Brooch in our Ascot Brooch Stakes, come on down! The G. Collins & Sons Brooch commissioned by The Queen for her mother's 100th birthday was nicely set off by Her Maj's coral Angela Kelly outfit and feathery comb over hat. We haven't seen it in use since 2013, so that puts a check in the reappearance category on my Ascot wish list - even if it wasn't exactly the gem I was hoping would fulfill that spot. (Hits a little too far on the twee side for me, I'm afraid.)


The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall returned to Ascot on Day 4, which is a treat; Days 1 and 2 are often the extent of their attendance. They actually had their first runner at Ascot today, but the horse didn't place. 
Leave it to Camilla to pull off three different pearl chokers in a week. This one has been her overwhelming favorite this year. 

11 June 2016

Trooping the Colour (Updated)

Her Majesty, accompanied by members of the Royal Family, was present at The Queen's Birthday Parade on Horse Guards Parade at which The Queen's Colour of the No. 7 Company Coldstream Guards was trooped.

There's standing out on a parade ground, and then there's STANDING OUT ON A PARADE GROUND. It's Her Maj's birthday, she can be radioactive if she wants to!

© MOD Crown copyright 2016/POA(Phot) Owen Cooban
To go along with this vibrant Stewart Parvin coat and Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat, The Queen chose (as she always does these days) the Brigade of Guards Badge. The badge combines the symbols of the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, the Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards, and the Scots Guards, and you can read more at the link below.


Three Strand Pearl Necklace


Following along in the first carriage were The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry.
© MOD Crown copyright 2016/POA(Phot) Owen Cooban
 The Duchess of Cambridge followed up on yesterday's use of the hat she wore to Princess Charlotte's christening by using the Alexander McQueen coat from that christening today. She wore a Philip Treacy hat - an interesting choice, she's certainly worn him in the past but not so much during her marriage. The hair, clearly, is to die for.

© MOD Crown copyright 2016/Sgt Rupert Frere
The Duchess of Cornwall's jewelry choices have been pretty common this year - her pearl Prince of Wales Feathers brooch again, and the larger of her two diamond clasp pearl chokers - but an understated selection may have been for the best with this very, uh, active hat.

Pearl and Diamond Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch
Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp
Everyday Pearl Earrings


In another carriage, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie rode with The Duke of York and The Duke of Kent (Colonel of the Scots Guards, but no longer riding in the parade). Princess Beatrice's repeated orange peel hat would have been a bright point at nearly any other time, but on this day she was soundly outdone by her grandmother.

© MOD Crown copyright 2016/POA(Phot) Owen Cooban
At the end of the procession, the whole Wessex family shared a carriage: The Earl and Countess with Lady Louise and Viscount Severn, making his carriage procession debut. Sophie sort of looks like she backed into a floral arrangement, but a lovely one at that. And Lady Louise is giving Kate some competition in the elaborate hair stakes! You know I'm all for that.

© MOD Crown copyright 2016/Sgt Rupert Frere
Last from the procession but never least, The Queen's royal escort on horse: The Prince of Wales (Colonel of the Welsh Guards), The Duke of Cambridge (Irish Guards), and The Princess Royal (Blues and Royals). Looking smart, as though it could be any other way.


UPDATE: The balcony was positively overflowing with royals in this big birthday year. Let's see what we've got here...

If you've never watched the Trooping (in person or via broadcast), there are two separate balcony appearances: one when assembled family members watch The Queen arrive back at Buckingham Palace, and a second with The Queen and the Royal Colonels to watch the flypast. (Just in case you wondered why people seem to swap places, going from photos alone.)

THAT GREEN. I'm sorry, it needed to be said again.

Princess Charlotte was the star of the show in her balcony debut, and Prince George made his second appearance. He wore an old outfit of his father's the first time around, and so it was again: this is the outfit Prince William wore to Prince Harry's christening.

Happily - and unusually - The Princess Royal's children were up on the balcony this year! This is no doubt due to Peter Phillips' involvement in the Patron's Lunch tomorrow; he was interviewed during the BBC's broadcast (and just slipped back to the balcony at the end, you can see him behind The Duke of Edinburgh). I could not love Autumn Phillips' spectacular shade of blue more.

The balcony was flush with the Kent branch of the family - nice to see Lady Helen Taylor and daughters, she wasn't much featured at yesterday's service - but out of them all, I find the most appreciation for Prince Michael and his sharp lapel trim.

I'm very interested in The Duchess of Gloucester in a not-beanie hat (far left). Next to her, the orange and teal combination sported by her daughter-in-law, The Countess of Ulster, is a welcome shot of color on this side of the balcony.

That's not everybody, so here's the full shot:


Photos: BBC screencaps unless otherwise noted

19 May 2016

Buckingham Palace Garden Party

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

Doesn't The Duke look particularly dapper today? This is a sharp tie. The Queen's minty ensemble is...hmm, but the Cullinan V can be spotted from a mile away, so that's all as it should be.

Three Strand Pearl Necklace


Also in attendance...
This choker used to be more of a special occasion thing for The Duchess of Cornwall, and I'm extremely glad to see it becoming an everyday selection this year. The petite Prince of Wales feathers brooch she wore on her wedding day is a nice touch. (Though I must say I'm a little dubious on the rest of the outfit, which you can see here.)


Photos: The Royal Family
And last but not least: The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, The Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra of Kent! Princess Alexandra's looking fresh and nearly as sporty as one can in a massive garden party hat, with that striped scarf on.

25 December 2015

Christmas Service and Christmas Broadcast, 2015

Merry Christmas! We'll be chatting about the various fashions on display at the annual Windsor walk to church at the other blog over the weekend, but first we'll cover our interests here:

The Queen, accompanied by members of the Royal Family, attended Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham.

In a surprising turn of events, The Queen managed to be one of the least bejeweled ladies in the family for Christmas service! Even The Duchess of Cambridge wore a brooch today (one that she first wore in 2012, and which may be in her personal collection - as far as I know, it is not a loaned piece), but Her Maj rolled up broochless in cozy Christmas red with fur trim. Her regular daytime selection of jewels was also all that was on display for the day's earlier service. I cannot lie, I was a little disappointed...but my spirits were lifted by her brooch selection for the Christmas speech. Read on...

Queen Mary's Button Earrings


Given QEII's jewel restraint, I was pleased to see that The Duchess of Cornwall was properly decked out for the Christmas service.

Her Diamond Moth Brooch was a debuted earlier this year (and we'll cover it in the new year!), and she threw on the larger of her two diamond clasp pearl chokers for a little extra festive flair. Her Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings completed the look with an outfit that ranks among my favorites.


The Queen's annual message was broadcast on Christmas Day.


As always, there's meaning to be found in everything The Queen wears and in her surroundings for her Christmas speech. The portraits at her side are of the present and future leaders of the family (a shot of the Cambridge family from Princess Charlotte's christening, a wedding photo of The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, a casual photo of herself with The Duke of Edinburgh), and her brooch reminds of us the last generation: The Queen Mother's Art Deco Aquamarine Brooch. It's not a piece that many would find instantly recognizable as a member of the late Queen Elizabeth's collection, making it a subtle yet significant choice for this speech, just as it was for the VE Day commemoration events earlier this year.

The brooch really stands out in contrast to the gold in the 18th Century Room at Buckingham Palace and on the light background of her Angela Kelly tweed outfit. The Queen also wore her usual selection of day jewels, with what looks to be her larger pair of pearl and diamond button earrings.

Engagement and Wedding Rings 

Photos:via Getty Images

27 November 2015

Malta Visit: Day 2, CHOGM Opening Ceremony

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, and The Duchess of Cornwall attended the opening ceremony of the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on the second day of their visit to Malta. Afterward, The Queen and The Prince of Wales hosted a reception for the new Commonwealth Heads of Government at San Anton Palace.
CHOGM Malta screencap
 For more: Vimeo opening ceremony recap, Zimbio gallery.
Day two brings us some brooch intrigue! {Insert jumpy claps here} This one looks like an aquamarine brooch with a diamond surround, and I think it is new to me...

What do you think? Ringing any bells for anyone? (And what should we name it here, huh? Update: I'm going with the Malta Aquamarine Brooch.) Let me know your thoughts!  Whatever it is, it is pretty. Oh my, I'd take this one off Her Maj's hands in no time.
CHOGM Malta Flickr/DOI-Omar Camilleri, click here for galleries
Anyway, she also wore this brooch and outfit, sans hat, for the reception after the opening ceremony.

Malta Aquamarine Brooch


I love The Duchess of Cornwall's outfit choice for the opening ceremony, which she paired with Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings and the large version of her diamond-clasped four strand pearl chokers. And she must be in a bit of a buggy mood, because she followed up yesterday's diamond and sapphire dragonfly brooches with her diamond moth brooch (not yet covered here).


Also today, The Queen held a private audience with Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon at San Anton Palace.
Finally, this is another rare brooch for Her Majesty which happily reappeared last year: the Emerald and Diamond Celtic Knot Brooch.


We'll be back later with another post, for tonight is the fancy CHOGM dinner, and I'm ready for some sparkle...

05 July 2015

The Christening of Princess Charlotte

The Queen, along with other members of the Royal Family, attended the christening of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham.
We will be covering this event tomorrow on the other blog, but over here, we'll cover the interests of this blog (that would be the jewels of The Queen and The Duchess of Cornwall, in case you hadn't picked up on that).

The Queen selected the Gold Filigree Brooch(Singapore Peranakan Diamond Jubilee Brooch) to go with her pale pink outfit, and I think this is my favorite appearance of this brooch yet - light, fresh, and summery! Perfect for the christening of a great-granddaughter. This brooch first appeared in 2012 and though we don't know anything about its history, we've seen it several times since. Update: It was a gift from Singapore, turned into a personal favorite.
(Also relevant to all interests, everywhere: consultations of great importance with one's great granny.)




The Duchess of Cornwall paired her Everyday Pearl Earrings with her Pearl Four Strand choker with Large Diamond Clasp - a frequent selection for special occasions - and layered that over the small "C" charm chain she's been wearing with everything lately.


Also, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended Sunday service at Sandringham earlier (they were not arriving for the christening itself here, despite what the caption the tweet below says).
Not seen in this snap (but seen elsewhere), The Queen was wearing the Cambridge Pearl Pendant Brooch.


Again, stay tuned tomorrow at the other blog for coverage of the rest of the event.

Photos:via Getty Images, Twitter

02 June 2015

The Duchess of Cornwall at the Royal Academy of Arts Dinner

A rare non-Queen event post today, but such things are called for in the event of an emergency Tiara Watch.

The Duchess of Cornwall attended the Royal Academy of Arts Annual Dinner at the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London.
For more: Zimbio gallery.
Sneaky tiaras are the best kind of tiaras. I was not expecting Camilla to wear a diadem to this event, but she sparkled it up nevertheless, bless her. She repeated a gown she has worn to the State Opening of Parliament and echoed her usual approach for that event in everything except the tiara, wearing her Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings and her Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp.
With Howard Jacobson
Other standard accessories included her favorite diamond bracelet, often said to have belonged to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, plus the insignia of the Royal Victorian Order (Riband, Star, and Badge) and the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II. Her sash appears to be anchored at the shoulder by the same diamond brooch we saw her debut at this year's State Opening of Parliament.
For her tiara, she went with the same approach she's used for the annual Diplomatic Reception in the past, wearing her family's own tiara. The Cubitt-Shand Tiara is an asymmetrical diamond floral design said to have belonged to Sonia Keppel Cubitt, Camilla's maternal grandmother. Camilla wore the diadem to her first wedding, and her daughter Laura also wore it for her wedding. Since marrying Charles, we've only seen it in glimpses from that Diplomatic Reception, and it is unclear whether the tiara (a private jewel) is owned by The Duchess or if she borrows it from a family member. It's a smaller option than her usual tiara, the Greville Tiara, which makes it a nice choice for the more private diplomatic event and also for an event like this dinner.
With Dame Joan Collins, at peak fabulous
This was apparently a white tie dinner - though of course it drew a mix of outfits from the guests because that's how things go - and with such a dress code, orders and tiaras (if you've got one) can be appropriate. Doubly appropriate when one is the official guest of honor, as Camilla was this evening. But tiaras at events where The Queen is not present and at events outside of the usual state occasions have become increasingly rare. Basically nonexistent, as a matter of fact. Camilla wore one to the dinner at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka in 2013, but that was an occasion at which she and Charles were directly substituting for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. That made this a surprising occasion, but needless to say, one I was thrilled to see. Consider my day made! 

P.S. The Duchess of Cornwall had a busy day today. Stay tuned to the other blog tomorrow for more on the garden party she attended earlier in the day! 

Photos: Stuart C. Wilson via Getty Images

27 May 2015

State Opening of Parliament

The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, traveled in State to the Palace of Westminster to open the Session of Parliament. The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were also in attendance, as was The Princess Royal. 
After two years of pearls, The Queen returned to diamonds and one of her most frequently worn combinations for today's State Opening of Parliament. The Coronation Necklace and Earrings are among the most historical and important pieces she wears regularly, and they're always a nice choice for an occasion with as much pomp and circumstance as the State Opening. 

George IV State Diadem (worn arriving and leaving)
Imperial State Crown (worn during the speech)
Coronation Necklace and Earrings
Modern Three Row Diamond Bracelet
Diamond Evening Watch
Collar and Great George of the Order of the Garter


The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were in attendance for the third year running.
Camilla is settling into her own routine of favorite jewels for the occasion: the Greville Tiara, together with her Everyday Pearl Pendant Earrings and her Four Strand Pearl Choker with Large Diamond Clasp, the same combination she's worn for the past two years. She is also wearing the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II and the Star, Riband, and Badge of the Royal Victorian Order.
There were a couple new things this year, though. She usually anchors her sash with a diamond rosette brooch on her shoulder, but she's gone for a rather geometric diamond number this time around, which is a first. She also has a new court dress (well, coat and dress). The white court dresses worn to the State Opening always walk the bridal line and this might be stepping a wee bit close to that line, but she looks fab nevertheless. 


Also present: The Princess Royal! 
In her position as Gold Stick-in-Waiting (which she fulfills as Colonel of the Blues and Royals), she accompanied The Queen. Looking spiffy in her uniform, as though it could be any other way. Anne, Charles, and Philip are all wearing the Collar of the Order of the Garter, and the dark green Riband of the Order of the Thistle.


And finally, because this is a jewel blog and we do the jewels, some peering around for other tiaras in attendance: 
The Queen's Ladies-in-Waiting wear their tiaras. Standing to the right of Her Maj above are The Lady Susan Hussey and The Hon. Annabel Whitehead. (Lady Susan, like The Duchess of Cornwall, wears the Riband of the Royal Victorian Order.)
And for those with eagle eyes, there's always some tiara spotting to be done among the assorted peeresses in attendance in the audience.


Links & More:

Photos: via Getty Images and UK Parliament screencap