A change of room scenery and a change of brooch scenery! We most often get pictures of The Queen receiving credentials from ambassadors in the 1844 Room (as pictured last week, for example), but she shook it up today in the White Drawing Room. You can see a 360° view on the Royal Family site here (where it does say that this is a room regularly used for these types of audiences, so fair enough). Today's brooch selection is the Grima Ruby, last seen in the 2018 Christmas broadcast.
Merry Christmas! We'll be chatting about the other fashions from the British royal family's Christmas church gathering at the other blog tomorrow. But first, The Queen:
The Queen, accompanied by members of the Royal Family, attended Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham.
Interesting outfit choice from Her Maj today, perhaps overdoing it with the festive trimmings - that's a loud pink trim on the coat and some Camilla-level feather overload on the hat. She accented the bright pink with her pink sapphire.
The Queen's annual message was broadcast on Christmas Day.
Royal Family screencap
The Grima Ruby got the nod for this year's Christmas broadcast. A somewhat puzzling choice to me, given the dress seems to have some blue in it, but certainly a family-themed one (as a gift from Philip). That fits right in line with all the family events of the year, which were represented in the photographs on display and in the content of the speech (which you can view here).
The Queen, accompanied by The Prince of Wales, opened The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey.
Westminster Abbey
The Grima Ruby is certainly a statement brooch - and I had to laugh, coming after a no brooch day, that she made sure there was no way we'd miss this one. Especially on a magenta background. (She wore it on a similar color in December.)
Westminster Abbey
Charles was her escort for the day, and the galleries they opened - The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries - sound absolutely fascinating. They're set in the medieval triforium way above the floor at Westminster Abbey, showcasing 300 pieces from the Abbey's collection. Their Facebook page has a little teaser video; the space opens to the public on June 11.
Fresh off its run as one of the most significant brooches of 2017, the Grima Ruby has returned to take a stab at 2018. I'm glad it brings some color to this outfit of Her Maj's, especially when she's standing next to this resplendent guest, the Ambassador of the Republic of Chad.
The Queen attended the Commissioning Ceremony of aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth. Her Majesty was accompanied by The Princess Royal, Commodore-in-Chief of HMNB Portsmouth.
Royal Navy/MOD Crown Copyright 2017
Purple, Anne in uniform, and Her Maj’s usual delight around these sorts of events. That’s a top notch engagement for you.
Royal Navy/MOD Crown Copyright 2017
Amethysts make it even better! They’re the cherry on top of this outfit. The grape on top of this outfit, perhaps we should say.
And here we have the Cambridge Pearl, doing an admirable job of sticking out despite the heavy floral on this dress. Plus, a triplet moment! She coincidentally coordinates very well with the Nigerian High Commissioner George Adesola Oguntade and Mrs. Oguntade.
A new photographic portrait of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh has been released to mark their 70th wedding anniversary.
Royal Family Twitter
Big anniversaries call for new portraits, and this new one for their platinum wedding anniversary is full of symbolism. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh are pictured in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, between Thomas Gainsborough's 1781 portraits of King George III and Queen Charlotte, who were the British royal family's previously longest married couple with a marriage of 57 years. The photograph was taken by Matt Holyoak of Camera Press, the agency that handled the Baron photographs of their wedding in 1947 as its first assignment. The Queen wore this cream day dress by Angela Kelly to the service held for their diamond wedding anniversary.
Her brooch, by jeweler Andrew Grima, was a gift from Prince Philip in 1966. Press for the photo refers to it as the "Scarab" brooch (around here, we have simply called it the Grima Ruby Brooch).
...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.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh welcomed the President of the Republic of Colombia and Mrs. Santos at the beginning of the President's State Visit to the United Kingdom.
This is one of those times when I would love to be privy to the reasons behind a particular brooch selection, because rubies - the Ruby and Gold Flower Brooch, which has no known connection to these guests - are the last thing I would have paired with this outfit. They're not really that noticeable, I guess.
ITN screencap
Usually, The Queen just takes off her coat once inside with her guests (and, later, inspecting the state banquet setup), but by the time they reviewed the special Royal Collection exhibit with their Colombian guests, she had a total outfit change. She went ahead and leaned into the ruby theme with the Grima Ruby Brooch.
This Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch is one we haven't had a chance to cover here yet (it comes from Queen Alexandra), but it's a perfect match for her deep green outfit. A winner, and paired with her favorite pearl pendant earrings and her usual assortment of bracelets. She did receive a pair of emerald earrings when she and The Prince of Wales visited Colombia a couple years ago, but these were on display with the rest of exhibits, so sadly weren't worn.
The Queen, along with other members of the Royal Family, gave a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in the President's honor.
We haven't seen a tiara event in a while, and I can't tell you how delighted I am that it's one of the colored stone options instead of one of the usual favorites! Her Maj's been dipping into those more often in the past couple years (she wore this one just last year for the China state banquet), and I love the variety. Her sapphire parure also picks up very nicely on the blue in the Order of Boyaca from Colombia, so that's well played.
(Many have also asked which orders the men are wearing. The Duke of Edinburgh also has the Order of Boyaca, I would imagine in a lower grade without the grand collar. The President has been given the Order of the Bath, which is often given to presidents when orders are exchanged.)
Collar and Star of the Order of Boyaca
Evening Watch
Besides, we've always got Camilla to hold down the white stone fort. Is it just me, or all these Greville Tiara + White Dress + Pearl Choker appearances starting to blend together?
British Monarchy screencaps
With the exception of the earrings, this is the same dress and jewels we saw at this year's State Opening of Parliament, which is the same as the State Opening the year before that. I mean, it suits her well, but I do like to complain.
UPDATE: We now have video of The Queen's speech - observe her sparkly dress!
And with video comes a glimpse at some of the other royal ladies in attendance. (There are also additional tiaras in the video above worn by others, and maybe a glimpse of Princess Michael of Kent, but it's hard to tell.)
British Monarchy screencap
Princess Alexandra of Kent wore the Ogilvy Tiara in its pearl setting. She wears the sash of the Order of the Garter.
British Monarchy screencaps
I wish we had a better look at The Duchess of Gloucester, in the red dress, because she wore the Iveagh Tiara and we don't get to see that in use often. She's wearing the sash of the Royal Victorian Order.
The Queen visited several organizations including the Defence Business Services, NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, and the Medal Office at Imjin Barracks, Gloucester.
For more: Gallery from Zimbio, article from the BBC.
Well, of the audiences held today, the one above isn't the headline-maker, but it does show the brooch. Here's the one you came for:
Angelina Jolie, awarded an honorary damehood for her humanitarian efforts. And wearing a version of one of my favorite Ralph & Russo runway looks while at it! Tremendously elegant.
Buckingham Palace announced the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will take a one day trip to Rome in April of this year, including an audience with Pope Francis. Her last visit to Vatican City came in October 2000, during a state visit to Italy, when she and the Duke visited Pope John Paul II.
According to reports about the upcoming visit, it will be an informal one; the Queen is not expected to wear black or a mantilla/veil. Past visits to Vatican City were even more formal than the appearance in 2000, and you can look for those in upcoming flashbacks!
In current events... The Queen and the Duke went to church at Sandringham one last time before heading back to London this week. She wore the Flame Lily Brooch, a particularly appropriate choice since she recently marked the date of her accession, and that was the brooch she wore when returning home for the first time after her father's death.
Made of recycled carved rubies, free-form gold, and diamonds, this brooch was created by jeweler Andrew Grima. It was given to The Queen by The Duke of Edinburgh in 1966, and is one of a number of modern pieces that have been added to her collection during her reign.
