Spanish State Visit Jewels: Official Welcome Ceremonies

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For the first time in more than three decades, the Spanish monarch has arrived in the United Kingdom for a state visit. Here’s a look at the jewels we saw during the official welcome ceremonies for King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

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Felipe and Letizia were officially greeted this morning by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall before proceeding to Horseguards Parade in central London to meet with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.

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King Felipe is related to both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in various ways; they’re all descendants of both Queen Victoria and King Christian IX of Denmark. Felipe’s parents, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, previously made a state visit to the United Kingdom; so did his maternal grandparents, King Paul and Queen Friederike of the Hellenes. Felipe’s great-grandmother (and godmother) was Queen Ena of Spain, the youngest granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Ena was born at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where the Windsors will shortly retire for their annual summer holidays.

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From Horseguards Parade, the royal party traveled by carriage to Buckingham Palace, giving us a good view of the jewels worn. With her usual pearls, Queen Elizabeth II wore the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch, which you can read much more about over here.

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Queen Letizia wore pearl drop earrings set in gold for the first official events of the state visit.

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Here’s a slightly better look at the earrings.

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The Duchess of Cornwall wore familiar jewels, including her four-stranded pearl choker with the large diamond clasp.

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We got a better look at Letizia’s ensemble after the party disembarked at the palace.