Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World
The Japanese crown prince’s proclamation wasn’t the only big royal event that took place this weekend. The Windsors also gathered (socially distantly) for events in London to mark Remembrance Sunday and the centenary of both the Cenotaph and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
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The Spanish royals rang in the new year on Monday with the annual Pascua Militar celebrations in Madrid, and Queen Letizia accessorized with some fantastic family heirloom earrings.
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The ceremony, which was begun by King Carlos III in 1782, takes place every year on Epiphany. The day begins with a military review in the courtyard of the Royal Palace in Madrid, attended by the monarch and the prime minister as well as high-ranking military officials.
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Following the review, a reception is held in the throne room of the palace, which includes speeches by both the monarch and the minister of defense.
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Queen Letizia wore a vibrant blue gown for this year’s ceremony. Long dresses or skirts are customarily worn for the event, even though it takes place during the day.
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| Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images |
Letizia’s primary accessory for this year’s celebrations were her earrings, which featured round pearls set in a gemstone surround.
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| Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images |
Diamonds and sapphires gleamed beside the pearls and coordinated nicely with the color of Letizia’s dress.
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If the earrings look familiar, there’s a good reason. Letizia’s worn them once before, for the gala held on the night before her royal wedding in May 2004. The earrings, which are part of a set that includes a coordinating necklace, belonged to King Felipe’s grandmother, the Countess of Barcelona.
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| Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images |
She also wore one more piece of jewelry with her ensemble: her gold oval ring, which you’ll see above on the index finger of her left hand.
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| Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images |
Letizia didn’t wear a brooch this year as she did for both previous ceremonies, but her gown did have one more bit of sparkle, courtesy an embellished button.
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| Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images |
I always love seeing a little sparkle in Spain to kick off the new year!
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The British royals gathered at the Cenotaph in London this morning to mark Remembrance Sunday, and the ladies of the family chose appropriate jewels to commemorate the occasion.
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The Queen, who stood on a nearby balcony with the Duchesses of Cornwall and Cambridge to watch the ceremony, usually gathers her paper poppies with one of her diamond bow brooches, and this year, she chose the Dorset Bow Brooch. (She wore the same brooch last night for the Festival of Remembrance.)
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The Duchess of Cornwall wore her favorite pearl earrings with her pearl choker necklace with the large diamond clasp. With her poppies, she wore the cap badge of the Lancers. Her late father, Major Bruce Shand, served with the regiment during World War II.
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For the second year in a row, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a Royal British Legion crystal poppy brooch. (This specific brooch commemorates the work of codebreakers, like Kate’s grandmother, during World War II.) She also wore an important pair of earrings: the Bahrain diamond and pearl drop earrings, which are on loan to her from the Queen. (She wore the same earrings earlier this year for Trooping the Colour.)
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| DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images |
The Duchess of Sussex, the Countess of Wessex, and Sir Tim Laurence stood together on another balcony.
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| Chris Jackson/Getty Images |
Meghan did not wear any visible jewelry for this year’s commemorations. (I think this would have been the perfect outing for her small diamond and pearl earrings, given to her as a wedding present by the Queen.)
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| Chris Jackson/Getty Images |
Sophie chose to wear most of the same jewelry she wore for last night’s Festival of Remembrance, repeating the earrings, cross necklace, and poppy brooch. This time, she also wore the cap badge of The Rifles. (She’s the royal colonel of the 5th Battalion.)