Our survey of some of Queen Elizabeth II’s most gorgeous colorful evening gowns continues today with a look at a fresh green ensemble from a visit to South Africa in 1999.
On November 10, 1999, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, South Africa. There, they attended a banquet in their honor, hosted by South African President Thabo Mbeki.
For the dinner, the Queen wore a light green gown with a long lace jacket-style overlay, accessorized with a silver handbag and shoes, and adorned with diamonds and pearls.
The Queen wore the original pearl setting of the Vladimir Tiara for the occasion. The tiara, which she inherited from Queen Mary in 1953, originally belonged to a Romanov grand duchess.
With the tiara, the Queen wore the South African Diamonds. The necklace was presented to her by Prime Minister Smuts in South Africa in 1947, to mark her 21st birthday. She later had the necklace shortened, and a coordinating bracelet was created with the leftover diamonds. The Queen wore both the necklace and bracelet during this trip to South Africa, as well as a pair of small pear-shaped diamond drop earrings that she often coordinates with the set. She finished off the look with a diamond evening watch.
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