I’ve got a little bonus coda to our series of posts this week about the jewels worn for South African state banquets in the United Kingdom by the late Queen Elizabeth II: a sparkling tiara appearance from the Queen at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Banquet in South Africa.
In November 1999, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were in Durban for the annual Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The couple joined leaders from throughout the Commonwealth on November 12 for the traditional banquet held during the meeting.
The Queen, pictured here with President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, gleamed in a gold lace evening gown at the banquet, paired with gold accessories. The diamond star and blue sash of the Order of the Garter were pinned to her dress.
Her jewels of choice for the evening were diamonds and pearls. She wore the pearl setting of the Vladimir Tiara, as well as one of her most interesting suites of modern jewelry: the Qatari Pearls, a necklace and earrings that were a gift from the Emir of Qatar during her visit to the Middle East in 1979.
There were more diamonds and pearls, too. The Queen secured her Garter sash with a major royal heirloom: Queen Adelaide’s Brooch, which was made in 1831 and is an heirloom of the crown. She also added a bracelet set with diamonds and black and white pearls. (A photograph of the bracelet is featured in Angela Kelly’s 2012 book, Dressing the Queen.) A diamond evening watch finished the look.
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