state visit – Page 18

Jewels in Motion: Portuguese State Visit (1955)

04.09.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

In 1955, Queen Elizabeth II welcomed the President of Portugal to London for a state visit. The visit wrapped up with a gala at Covent Garden, where they royal ladies put their best jewels on display. Here’s a look at what they wore — in motion!

First to arrive for the gala was the Duchess of Kent. Marina wore her classic festoon tiara, pairing it with pearls. (You can read more about this tiara over here.)

Marina was accompanied by her daughter, Princess Alexandra of Kent. She wore the intricate bandeau tiara that the family inherited from Queen Mary; it was later worn by the present Duchess of Kent at her wedding (after which it was likely remodeled).

Princess Marie Louise wore the all-diamond Schleswig-Holstein Honeysuckle Tiara, which she inherited from her sister, Princess Helena Victoria. (See her wearing the tiara over here.)

The Queen Mother wore one of her favorite jewel pairings: the Oriental Circlet with the Crown Rubies. (More on those pieces over here!)

Princess Margaret wore a tiara that has become very familiar to modern-day royal watchers: the Cartier Halo Tiara. (Much more on this piece here.)

Margaret walked in to the gala with her aunt, the Duchess of Gloucester. Alice is wearing her diamond bandeau, which was a wedding gift from her husband. The piece can be worn in either all-diamond or diamond and emerald settings; she appears to be wearing the emeralds here.

Fittingly, the sparkliest royal lady in attendance was the Queen herself. She wore Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik (a legacy from Queen Mary) with the Dorset Bow Brooch (another jewel from Queen Mary) and the City of London Fringe Necklace (a wedding gift).

Japanese/Spanish State Visit: Prime Minister Visit

04.06.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

The Spanish state visit to Japan continued on Thursday with a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

Once again, Queen Letizia delved into her mother-in-law’s jewelry collection, wearing a pair of diamond and ruby earrings previously worn by Queen Sofia.

SVEN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images

Letizia has worn this pair of earrings in public before. Her most memorable appearance in the earrings, without a doubt, was at the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark in Copenhagen in 2004. On that occasion, Letizia wore the earrings with a pair of diamond and ruby clips that belonged to her husband’s grandmother, the Countess of Barcelona.

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

For today’s meeting, Letizia paired the earrings with a dress that featured Japanese-inspired fabrics and draping.

SHIZUO KAMBAYASHI/AFP/Getty Images

The last two Spanish state visits make one thing abundantly clear: Queen Sofia has opened up her jewel collection to her daughter-in-law in a major way!

Japanese/Spanish State Visit: State Banquet

04.05.2017 by The Court Jeweller // Leave a Comment

Casa de S.M. el Rey

On Wednesday evening, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko held a state banquet at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo for their guests, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Queen Letizia went for a classic, fairy-tale princess look, topped off with the all-diamond Spanish Floral Tiara. She picked up the blue in her gown with a pair of diamond and sapphire earrings.

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Like this morning’s pair, these earrings belong to her mother-in-law, Queen Sofia. The brooch which secures her order sash is the central element of her fleur-de-lis tiara.

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

In this view of the full dress, you can also see that Letizia wore the pair of diamond bracelets from the joyas de pasar, stacking both bracelets on her left wrist.

Casa de S.M. el Rey

Empress Michiko no longer wears tiaras for health reasons, but she glittered in diamond earrings and a lovely diamond necklace. She wore the small ribbon of the Order of Charles III. King Felipe wears three orders: the Order of the Golden Fleece at his neck, the sash of the Order of Charles III, and the collar of his highest Japanese order, the Order of the Chrysanthemum. He received the last order on this trip.

TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Here’s a look at the back of Michiko’s gown and evening jacket; note the metallic features of the fabric.

Casa de S.M. el Rey

The emperor wore the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, plus the sash and star of the Order of the Chrysanthemum. Letizia wore the sash of her highest Japanese order, the Order of the Precious Crown.

Casa de S.M. el Rey

Several other ladies from the imperial family were also present at the banquet, and we got a brief glimpse at their tiaras. Crown Princess Masako, wearing the Pearl Sunburst Tiara and its mirrored necklace, sits beside her mother-in-law. She also wears the sash of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. (So does her brother-in-law, the Prince Akishino, who is sitting to her right.)

Casa de S.M. el Rey

Beside Crown Prince Naruhito, the Princess Akishino wears her wedding tiara (plus its mirrored necklace) and the sash of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. Her younger daughter, Princess Kako, wears her diamond tiara and necklace with the sash of the Order of the Precious Crown. (Princess Mako was also in attendance, wearing her diamond tiara and jewels with the sash of the Order of the Precious Crown.)