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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
Tonight, the British royals attended the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace, and the Queen brought a major jewelry surprise along with her!
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
The Queen was accompanied by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for the annual white-tie event.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
The Queen wore diamonds and emeralds for the occasion.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
She chose the Vladimir Tiara with the Cambridge emerald drops for the reception, pairing it with additional diamond and emerald jewels. Her emerald earrings were part of the Greville Bequest; she inherited them from the Queen Mother in 2002.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
The most exciting jewel she wore, however, was this diamond and emerald necklace, which appears to be a piece she’s never worn in public before. The central part of the necklace has some similiarities to the Greville Emerald Necklace, but the diamond clusters seem significantly different to me.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
Here’s a closer look at the necklace, which has square faceted emeralds in diamond clusters with diamond spacer ornaments and diamond and cabochon emerald drops.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
Here’s one more view of the necklace from tonight’s reception.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
The Queen also wore two Art Deco bracelets, one set with diamonds and one with diamonds and emeralds. The bracelets, made by Cartier, are part of the set that can be worn as a bandeau tiara. (More on that jewel here!)
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
The Duchess of Cornwall wore familiar pieces from her glittering gala collection for the reception.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
Camilla paired the Greville Tiara with one of her signature diamond and pearl choker necklaces and the grand diamond earrings from her demi-parure. She also wore a diamond bracelet on her left wrist.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
The Duchess of Cambridge was elegant in diamonds, pearls, and velvet for the occasion.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
She wore Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara with the Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace, both of which are on loan to her from the Queen.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
She also wore a pair of glittering diamond earrings.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
And you’ll also spot a large gem-set ring on her right hand.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
Here’s a look at Kate’s entire ensemble for the reception.
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| Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
What a wonderful addition to a very sparkly week!