Royal Jewels

[JewelFreak]

I think the Queen looks terrific lately too, TL. She's been wearing some strong colors & they look wonderful on her.

Very nice ring of Zara's. Princess Anne has always been independent of mind, Danny, and it didn't surprise me when she turned down titles for her kids. I think she wanted them to live regular lives, maybe have to strive a bit. With titles & the Civil List come royal duties; Anne has never liked the spotlight much & may have wanted to fix it so her children could escape it. Would certainly be possible that a private trust fund gives them some income, helpful if not lavish (by royal standards anyway). I love the Festoon Tiara too, Bobby -- would love to see her wear it for her wedding. What a pretty girl she is.

--- Laurie

 

[Imdanny]

Laurie, I respect what you are saying, but it seems to me Zara is involved in all kinds of commercial dealings, selling her image, and selling access to herself, to maintain a lavish lifestyle. I don't understand how this helps the family's image, but what do I know? I'm just a peasant (with a very nice coronet). Cheers!

 

[JewelFreak]

Good point, Danny. Hadn't thought of it that way. If you dislike the limelight, don't use your celebrity for profit. The younger RFs have adapted very easily to some elements of modern life, eh? Big loss of dignity.

--- Laurie

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Merry Christmas everyone!!! Hope you had a wonderful time (I sure had)!

HM during her christmas speech, which will broadcast in some minutes.
ther will be a visit to st mary magdalene chruch (sandringham) later to-day

It's nice to so nice to see the gold dahlia worn for the Christmas broadcast! This brooch sure is one of HM's favs. Though I was a bit surprised to see HM with a coat, rather than only with the dress beneath it.

As you can see in the lovely photo below, The Queen also wore the brooch at the Christmas service this year:

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Ok, so what are the royals doing for Christmas. I want details. I want pictures.

I can only supply you with photos from the church services the various royals have attended

The Norwegians (the CP family is on a world tour) - http://myroyal-myroyals.blogspot.com/2010/12/norway-royal-family.html
The Brits - http://myroyal-myroyals.blogspot.com/2010/12/british-royal-family_25.html
The Danes (the CP family is expecting the twins in Copenhagen) - http://myroyal-myroyals.blogspot.com/2010/12/danish-royal-family.html

Don't know about the Bernadottes and the Grimaldis. Haven't heard from the Spanish Bourbons, the Belgian Coburgs and the Orange-Nassaus either.

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

On occassion of the Swedish Queen's 67th birthday (23rd December), the Royal Court has issued a new (formal-informal) photo, ft. some nice jewels.
Of course I wish Her Majesty many happy returns and hope she had a great festive week. My personal wish to HM is a new member of the family by that time next year

http://www.royalcourt.se/kungafamil...odelsedag.5.40e05eec12926f26304800018822.html

 

[prince.of.preslav]

I think the Queen looks terrific lately too, TL. She's been wearing some strong colors & they look wonderful on her.

Very nice ring of Zara's. Princess Anne has always been independent of mind, Danny, and it didn't surprise me when she turned down titles for her kids. I think she wanted them to live regular lives, maybe have to strive a bit. With titles & the Civil List come royal duties; Anne has never liked the spotlight much & may have wanted to fix it so her children could escape it. Would certainly be possible that a private trust fund gives them some income, helpful if not lavish (by royal standards anyway). I love the Festoon Tiara too, Bobby -- would love to see her wear it for her wedding. What a pretty girl she is.

--- Laurie

Yes, The Princess Royal turned down titles for her kids, but that doesn't make sence to me. The children of a regular Earl aren't entitled to money from the CL, nor the limelight is thirs by right of birth. Of course Zara is a celebrity in her own right, as she folowed her mother's steps in the equestrian world (I'm so glad she did).
Zara and her fiance work hard to maintain a certain (middle class) standart. Just look at the house they bought and renovated. Of course her parents are rich people.
Glad you agree about the festoon tiara

Laurie, I respect what you are saying, but it seems to me Zara is involved in all kinds of commercial dealings, selling her image, and selling access to herself, to maintain a lavish lifestyle. I don't understand how this helps the family's image, but what do I know? I'm just a peasant (with a very nice coronet). Cheers!

Danny,
The Princess Royal in the interview that marked her 60th birthday explained that her daughter Zara has to (as you say) sell herself because of the contracts she has with various sponsors. You know, maintaining a stable of million-pound-worth horses is not easy if you're not Athina Onassis or a SA Sheikh. It's very much the same as what Lady Helen Taylor and The Princess of Preslav do, simply becuase they have to live of something. As it happenes, it's profiable for them and for their sponsors.
This is not exactly what Princess Anne wanted (her children away from the limelight), but she is happy for her daughter's success.

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

For those of you who haven't watched Elizabeth II's Christmas broadcast (or would like to see it again), hare it is - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12079077

Bobby

 

[Imdanny]

Thanks, Bobby. And I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

So, do you think that the reason Princess Anne didn't want her children to have title is so that they'd live out of the limelight? Is it as simple as that? If that was her reasoning, it hasn't worked out that way. I don't understand why they don't have titles myself. Do you know if they've ever said they care about this one way or the other?

 

[Blackpaw]

I find the lack of titles for Anne's children puzzling as well. Im not sure if this is correct but i read once (maybe Burke's peerage?) that irrespective of Anne's decision to have her children grow up without the titles, they still technically are what they are, a prince and princess in this case?

 

[Imdanny]

They're still in the line of succession. I know that much.

Princess Alexandra's daughter doesn't have a title (iirc).

So I guess it's not unheard of.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise, The Princess Royal, Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Dame Grand Cross and Grand Master of the Royal Victorian Order, Dame Grand Cross of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and Her Grace The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland didn't want her children to have titles, in any case. I don't really understand why.

 

[Feeshalori]

Season's greetings to all -

I don't believe Zara and Peter are a prince and princess because they receive their titles from the male bloodline of a sovereign, not female, if I understand this correctly. Technically, Prince Edward's children are prince and princess even though they're not accorded the titles because he's the son of a sovereign and he passed the title along to his children even though they're known as lady and viscount. Once Anne married, she became a "Mrs." with no noble title to pass along. So the only way her children would have received titles would have been if their father were named an earl or even duke on the occasion of Princess Anne's wedding or afterward. Of course the Queen, as Fount of Honors, could grant Anne's children whatever title she wishes even now.

 

[Imdanny]

Her first husband refused an earldom, I read. I wonder, as I said, how Princess Anne's children feel about this issue, if they feel anything about it at all. I think it would be strange if (almost) everyone in my family had a title and I didn't. In all honesty, I think I'd want one.

 

[Feeshalori]

I'm in agreement with you, Danny. As child of a princess and grandchild of a monarch, I'd want a title as well since I'm in the direct line, but that's me. Princess Alexandra's daughter is second cousin to the Queen, I believe, so it probably didn't matter if Marina didn't have a title since it's not the core family. I don't know if this is true or not, but I did read somewhere awhile ago that Zara would have liked a title. Again, the Queen can always rectify this matter but who knows if anything would be done at this point.

 

[JewelFreak]

I imagine much of Anne's reasoning was emotional. This is the Era of the Common Man, after all. I think she wanted to make it so her children were Like Everybody Else. A little hard to do when your grandmother is the Queen.

--- Laurie

 

[Josefine]

at the RJOFW members posted revelation of the year 2010
a fun subject here are a few things they listed it that forum

Princess Claire of belgium wore a unknown tiara at the swedish wedding
princess madeleine of sweden wore the Connaught Tiara for the first time
Princess Christina of Spain wore the grand queen Ena tiara for the first time
crown Princess Mette-Marit of norway wore the base Queen Maud tiara for the first time
Princess Martha-Louise of norway wore the Amethyst Tiara for the first time
crown princess victoria of sweden wore the cameo tiara for the first time
crown princess victoria of sweden wore new grand earings and the arrow diamond brosch
crown princess maxima wore a lost hair comb in her hair at the second dinner in sweden
Kate Middleton receiving Princess Diana's engagement ring
Princess Mathilde wore her tiara as a necklace for the first time
Crown princess marys of denmarks ruby tiara were remodelled
queen silvias of sweden were seen with a new ruby pendent
queen sonja of norway were seen with a third setting of her modern tiara
Queen Paula of belgiumalso got a new necklace from caongo

can you come up with other example

 

[prince.of.preslav]

I find the lack of titles for Anne's children puzzling as well. Im not sure if this is correct but i read once (maybe Burke's peerage?) that irrespective of Anne's decision to have her children grow up without the titles, they still technically are what they are, a prince and princess in this case?

I don't know where you read that, but it's 100% false. If we consider that the children of HRH The Princess Royal are a prince/princess, then we can say that the children of the Haga and the Norwegian princesses (to name an example) are also princes/ess, which they're not (with the exception of Pss Birgitta's kids).
The article (?) must've been about Prince Edward's children - Viscount Severn and Lady Louse Windsor, legally HRH Prince/Princess James/Louse of Wessex.

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Thanks, Bobby. And I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

So, do you think that the reason Princess Anne didn't want her children to have title is so that they'd live out of the limelight? Is it as simple as that? If that was her reasoning, it hasn't worked out that way. I don't understand why they don't have titles myself. Do you know if they've ever said they care about this one way or the other?

Thanks, Danny, I did!

Well, not exactly the limelight but The Princess Anne wanted her children to have a more normal life that the one lead by her, her brothers and their children, which of course also includes the limelight. As Prince/Princess they wouldn't have experanced what they've experanced so far, whatever this might be. As I said, as plain Lord/Lady they would've been able to have a normal life as well, but Anne must've had her reasons, which her own mother, The Queen, respected.
You're right that it didn't work the way she wanted it to work. In Zara's case (HM's most photographed grandchold after the Waleses) it's due to her sports career. Philip is famous because of his royal connections only. I think they're OK with their non-royal status, albeit with a high place in the line to the throne.

I'm with Patricia and as a grandchild of a Sovereign, I'd like to have titles too (Lord Bogdan would be OK).

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

I imagine much of Anne's reasoning was emotional. This is the Era of the Common Man, after all. I think she wanted to make it so her children were Like Everybody Else. A little hard to do when your grandmother is the Queen.

--- Laurie

This might be the era of the Common Man, but lets not forget that there are plenty of nobels and aristocrats out there.
One example I'd like to give are the father and uncles of The Duchess of Brabant - they were created Counts d'Udekem d'Acoz by the Belgian King in 1999 and now their children are Count/Countess rather than Jonkheer/Jonkvrouw (as they used to be before that).
And also - the late Duke of Parma created his daughter-il-law-to-be Countess of Molina, so that his son would not marry a commoner.

Bobby

 

[Feeshalori]

It's never too late for these titles and the Queen can always grant them to Peter on the birth of her first great-grandchild and to Zara on her wedding. A Lord or Lady isn't far up the scale of titles and at least acknowledges their heritage. I'm sure Anne had her reasons for the best of intentions, but she should have taken into account that her children are members of a royal and ruling house. Just saying....

 

[prince.of.preslav]

at the RJOFW members posted revelation of the year 2010
a fun subject here are a few things they listed it that forum

can you come up with other example

What come to my mind are:

The Crown Princess of Denmark - Queen Ingrid's ruby ring and a new diamond cuff bracelet (Swedish wedding),
Princess Marie of Denmark with a sapphire and diamond peandant/brooch from Queen Alexandrine's collection,
The Princess Royal - a new ruby and diamond necklace,
The Crown Princess of Serbia - a small diamond (?) tiara,
The Countess of Wessex - a diamond suit (maybe on loan),
Queen Betrix wore the Peacock tiara for the first time (twice this year),
of course Princess Tatiana wore Queen Anne-Maria's pearl and diamond tiara at her wedding,
Queen Sonja - new diamond brooches and earrings at the Nobel banquet and turquoises when President Medvedev payed a State Visit,
Crown Princess of Sweden - Queen Josefine's ruby and peal brooch in her hair twice - Margrethe II's birthday and the Day After of the Nobels,
Princess Margarita of Romania - a new diamond suite at the Swedish wedding,
others that I don't remember

ETA - Princess Tessy (spelling?) of Luxembourg wore her m-i-l's turquise tiara and earrings at the National Day gala.
ETA - The Duchess of Brabant has worn her tiara as necklace twice so far and at least one of the times was not this year!

Regards,
Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

It's never too late for these titles and the Queen can always grant them to Peter on the birth of her first great-grandchild and to Zara on her wedding. A Lord or Lady isn't far up the scale of titles and at least acknowledges their heritage. I'm sure Anne had her reasons for the best of intentions, but she should have taken into account that her children are members of a royal and ruling house. Just saying....

Indeed! I once suggested Baron (of) Gatcombe for Peter, once the baby's born. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think. Maybe a Baronetage (someday) for Mike Tindal?

Bobby

ETA - Here are two articels about Princess Anne's interview that I mentioned earlier -
http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/201008123987/princess-anne/60-birthday/interview-bbc/1/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10938168 - this one has a short vidieo with HRH speaking.

 

[JewelFreak]

You know, I think it matters more to us than to them! Doubt they've spent as much time on it as we have here! Socially in England, titles didn't determine who knew whom; commoner & artistocrat mixed, within certain perameters. Not your local plumber but untitled landed gentry, baronets, etc., with the right pedigree (old family) socialized with nobility from centuries ago. Zara lives her life as she would whether or not she had a title -- perhaps with a little more freedom without Civil List duties. I kind of doubt she thinks about it. She knows she's a granddaughter of the Queen, doesn't need a title; her life is as "average" to her as ours is to us.

--- Laurie

 

[Feeshalori]

Most likely you're right, Laurie, that the lack of titles probably bothers us non-royals than the royals themselves. It probably answers to some secret fantasy that we belong to a rarified circle who have royal blood and titles ourselves, LOL! After all, Zara and Peter know who they are and don't need titles to prove it since they're secure in the knowledge of their bloodlines and pedigree! But, awww, I still feel bad that they're the only grandchildren who don't possess titles. Even the Queen's niece and nephew have titles. If Anne wanted to make her children different, she certainly succeeded!!

--Patricia

 

[Feeshalori]

And, Bobby, a Baron of Gatcombe title for Peter does sound very nice and appropriate. And if Mike Tindall got a peerage, the poor bloke probably would feel like a soccer ball hit him in the head!!!

==Patricia

 

[Cordata]

Also GD Maria Theresa wore the emerald necklace-tiara of GD Josephine-Charlotte for the fist time at the SV to Portugal.
And there was the news of Letizia's new tiara.

There were quite a number of ladies who wore certain tiaras for the first time in 2010 and we saw a lot of tiara-splendour at the birthday of Queen Margrethe and most of all at the wedding of CP Victoria.
But in terms of tiara watching there was nothing as spectacular as the following events from 2009:
- first appearance of the Midnight tiara on Princess Mary
- reappearance of the Dutch ruby peacock tiara on Princess Maxima
- first appearance of the small Dutch sapphire tiara on Princess Margriet

 

[Imdanny]

Ok, so we've all expressed our opinions on Princess Anne's decision. Moving on... does anyone know who made Zara's ring? Thanks.

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Also GD Maria Theresa wore the emerald necklace-tiara of GD Josephine-Charlotte for the fist time at the SV to Portugal.
And there was the news of Letizia's new tiara.

There were quite a number of ladies who wore certain tiaras for the first time in 2010 and we saw a lot of tiara-splendour at the birthday of Queen Margrethe and most of all at the wedding of CP Victoria.
But in terms of tiara watching there was nothing as spectacular as the following events from 2009:
- first appearance of the Midnight tiara on Princess Mary
- reappearance of the Dutch ruby peacock tiara on Princess Maxima
- first appearance of the small Dutch sapphire tiara on Princess Margriet

The Grand Duchess wore the emerald choker for the first time at the State Banquet given by the King of Belgium, when his first cousin (Grand Duke Henri) payed a SV in 2007:
Maria Theresa also wore the necklace in April 2010 at the gala for Margrethe II's 70th birthday. And some time after that in Portugal

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

The Grand Duchess wore the emerald choker for the first time at the State Banquet given by the King of Belgium, when his first cousin (Grand Duke Henri) payed a SV in 2007:

Bobby

Ooops! The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is The Belgian King's nephew, not first cousin. The late Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte and King Albert II were brother and sister. I'm sorry for this inaccuracy.

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

SVT has a Christmas/New Year present for all those who enjoyed the most romantic and glittering royal event of the year - the wedding between Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Mr. Daniel Westling. The present is a unique behind the scenes footage (in Swedish) form the preparation of the wedding festives and from the wedding banquet.
One of the warmest moments (IMO) is the interaction between the bride-to-be and her future mother-in-law, the flower girls and page boys. The documentary also has some very nice close-ups of the two coronets that "attended" the ceremony. A pity there wasn't such close-us of the Cameo tiara.

http://svtplay.se/v/2280329/det_kungliga_brollopet/bakom_kulisserna

Bobby