The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will make a two-day visit to Paris on Friday and Saturday, adding their names to a long list of British royals who have made official visits to France’s capital city. Today and tomorrow, we’ll be looking back at the clothes and jewels worn during a few memorable state and official visits to Paris. We’re kicking things off with one of the most iconic French visits of them all: the state visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Paris and Versailles in 1938.
Crown Princess Victoria Celebrates Name Day
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On Sunday, Sweden’s crown princely family celebrated Crown Princess Victoria’s name day in Stockholm.
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Sweden has a special name day list, and all women named Victoria or Viktoria celebrate on March 12. My name day is on February 19, so you’ve all got plenty of time to plan next year’s celebration. 😉
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Crown Princess Victoria wore a lovely pair of earrings to greet the public who had gathered at the palace in Stockholm. I don’t have details on the maker or the materials, but I suspect amethysts and garnets.
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Really, though, this post is an excuse to show you Victoria and Daniel’s adorable children.
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Princess Estelle, Sweden’s future queen, recently turned five. She’s now attending school in Stockholm.
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And baby Prince Oscar celebrated his first birthday on March 2.
Lady Peel’s Tiara Sold
Lady Delia Spencer and Sir Sidney Peel at their wedding in 1914 (Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) |
British outlets are running stories right now trumpeting the sale of a tiara “owned by Princess Diana’s family,” complete with pictures of the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Here’s the scoop on the real story behind the tiara that was sold in the Netherlands on Thursday.
More than a century old, the tiara features a geometric design typical of the first quarter of the twentieth century. Press from TEFAF, the art fair where the tiara was displayed and sold, described the piece as follows: “Set with more than 800 old cut diamonds, estimated to weigh a total of 48 carats, the tiara can be transformed into a choker necklace and bracelet.”
Sidney and Delia are swarmed by people as they depart from their wedding (Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) |
The tiara was a wedding gift to Lady Delia Spencer from her father, the 6th Earl Spencer. (For those keeping score, that means that Lady Delia was Diana’s great-aunt.) Delia married Sir Sidney Peel, grandson of Victorian Prime Minister Robert Peel, in February 1914. As you can see in the photo above, their wedding in Northamptonshire drew major attention from the public.
Lady Peel’s tiara was offered at TEFAF by Hancocks of London, a company that deals in antique jewelry and also sells new pieces. Some of the famous royal and noble pieces made by the jeweler include the amazing Devonshire Parure and the diamond fringe owned by Princess Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife. The Peel Tiara reportedly fetched $225,000 at this particular sale.