Royal Jewels

[prince.of.preslav]

Thanks, TL. Probably the same -- the sapphires in Diana's earrings (from the Saudi watchband) had one sapphire w/12 diamonds & one w/10. Maybe Bobby has an opinion? He has the best eye for detail!

It's sapphire weekend. The Garter Ceremony: HM wore the earrings from the parure given to her by Sheik Rashid (I think) on her visit to Dubai in 2006. 2nd pic is her official Canada portrait wearing the set and the fringe tiara & diamond bracelet (forget the provenance of the bracelet). The necklace is soooo gorgeous.

--- Laurie

Just the other day I was wondering when we'll see Elizabeth II wearing her lesser sapphire (and also ruby) jewels at the Garther ceremony, and I must say I was pleasently surprised today when I say these photos. Now there's another pair that must make an outing

I've seen The Queen wear these earrings a few other times (the first time in 2006, I believe), most notably at The King of Saudi Arabia's State Visit to the UK in 2007. This, of corse, makes me think that he has presented the British Queen with them (there's also a necklace and bracelet) at an earlier occasion.
As Alexander has already mentioned, these are not the earrings from the Dubai set. They were worn at the Garter service in 2008. BTW, The Queen received this set in 1979, not 2006 (follow the links). HM had the it altered later.
In her official portrait as Queen of Canada HM's wearing a diamond watch (a favourite) and a diamond and sapphire bracelet.
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/52118593/Tim-Graham-Photo-Library
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/52118590/Tim-Graham-Photo-Library

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Chapter 1: Family Notes

Maria, thank you very much for the detailed report!!! Much appreciated I'm just so happy that you could finally see the exhibition.

Regards,
Bobby

 

[JewelFreak]

Alexander & Bobby, you're right about HM's earrings. Not the Dubai set. Still, I love that necklace & wish she would wear it more often.

As to Kate's earrings -- I wondered about the colors but it's impossible to tell in photos, especially paparazzi pics like those of Kate. Lighting is also different in the photos of her & Diana. I just don't think we can reliably compare this way. However, if Kate's earrings were not given by a 3rd party (like as a wedding present), would William buy her a pair so like the ones sitting in the vault? Needless expense, when modifying them a little makes them "hers." Guess we won't know until somebody says so.

--- Laurie

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Laurensmama, it's probably on here somewhere, but here's the story. The Fleur de Lys tiara was made by the Spanish jeweler Ansorena. It is diamonds & platinum. King Alfonso XIII gave it to Queen Victoria Eugenia, who wore it for their wedding in 1906. Along with it were the Collar de Chatones & earrings. The fleur de lys is the heraldic emblem of the Bourbons, rulers of Spain.

Queen Victoria Eugenia (Ena), a granddaughter of Victoria of England, was born Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenburg, daughter of Princess Beatrice of the UK and Prince Henry of Battenburg.

The tiara is one of the Spanish RF's most loved pieces & is worn only by the Queen of Spain. (The Countess of Barcelona, never queen due to Franco's reign, only wore it once, as mentioned above.) I think it was Franco who gave it to Princess Sophia on her marriage to Juan Carlos -- right, anyone?

It has several hinges, allowing it to be worn closed or open.

--- Laurie

All true, except one little bit, Laurie! Queen Sofia didn't receive the tiara from Franco, as it was the personal property of Queen Ena untill her very last breath in 1969. The only tiara Franco gave Princess Sofia was the floral tiara/necklace by Mellerio dits Meller, which was a wedding present from the people of Spain to their future Queen.
The Fleur-de-lis tiara is now part of the so-called joyas de pasar - a group of jewels that is passed from one Sovereign to another. The diamond collet necklace (originally with 30 stones) is also part of these jewels. King Alfonso XIII gave his Queen two diamonds to be added to it on important occasions. Now this is a very long necklace and HM last wore it at the 2004 Danish royal wedding. The diamond studs have been transformed into a pir of cluster earrings, also worn Frederik & Mary's wedding.

Bobby

 

[T L]

Catherine also -- are the diamond & sapphire earrings new? Don't recall having seen them before.

I was reading in another forum that Catherine's new diamond and sapphire earrings are a gift from William and could be the stud portion of these earrings from Diana being made into drops. If so, it's exciting to see some beautiful jewelry out of storage and adorning a beautiful woman again.

I'd be interested in what others find out about these earrings.

I for one don't think they are the same pair of earrings because the sapphires in Diana's look darker than the sapphires in Catherine's pair. If you look at other photos from the service, you'll notice that there's a difference in the colours of the stones in the earrings and the ring, whereas there was no such difference in Diana's sappire jewels.

Sapphires can get much darker in certain lighting, so I don't think that's enough of a determination.

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Alexander & Bobby, you're right about HM's earrings. Not the Dubai set. Still, I love that necklace & wish she would wear it more often.

As to Kate's earrings -- I wondered about the colors but it's impossible to tell in photos, especially paparazzi pics like those of Kate. Lighting is also different in the photos of her & Diana. I just don't think we can reliably compare this way. However, if Kate's earrings were not given by a 3rd party (like as a wedding present), would William buy her a pair so like the ones sitting in the vault? Needless expense, when modifying them a little makes them "hers." Guess we won't know until somebody says so.

--- Laurie

Laurie, as I said, if you look at photos that show the engagement ring and the earrings, you'lll notice that they are not the same colour. Then again, when Diana wore her sapphire earrings (including during the day) the colour of earrings and ring matched.
What's more, it's been mentioned before that this pair of sapphire and diamond earrings (the Princess of Wales') has cabochon stones. This is clear from larger photos I've seen.
Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Sapphires can get much darker in certain lighting, so I don't think that's enough of a determination.

Might be. I'm not a jewellery expert, after all. Yet, they've never looked so light when Diana wore them.

Bobby

 

[Ara Ann]

Sapphires can get much darker in certain lighting, so I don't think that's enough of a determination.

Might be. I'm not a jewellery expert, after all. Yet, they've never looked so light when Diana wore them.

Bobby

Could it be the fact that Catherine's earrings are a drop style, allowing more light to come through the stones? Diana wore them as studs, against her ear, maybe blocking more light and making them appear darker?

As I had also said before, I can't see them making her a new pair that look so similar to Diana's.

 

[prince.of.preslav]

More from the Garter ceremony:
The Duchess of Cornwall wore Queen Elizabeth's citrine or topaz, or garnet brooch, pearl & diamond necklace and earrings and an interesting bracelet - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dHp6fAa065SH/610x.jpg, http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/068mbtX9lfg8u/x610.jpg (two famous engament ring side by side )
The Duchess of Camdribge wore her diamond and topaz studs, a diamond (?) cross and the engagement ring - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0f6q2Dggos5L6/x610.jpg
The Countess of Wessex with diamond earrings - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/06yA7e683dgcu/x610.jpg
The Princess Royal wore her sappire and pearl drop earrings, along with the pearl and sapphire choker - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04d3fukc9ufQC/x610.jpg
Princess Alexandra wore her pearl and diamond drop earrings and a diamond riviere (Yes!) - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00BSgQHaXy2xg/610x.jpg

And last but not least, a clearer photo of The Queen's earrings - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0b9dgzadUPgGw/x610.jpg

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Could it be the fact that Catherine's earrings are a drop style, allowing more light to come through the stones? Diana wore them as studs, against her ear, maybe blocking more light and making them appear darker?

As I had also said before, I can't see them making her a new pair that look so similar to Diana's.

Yes, that's possible explanation, Ara Ann. But as I said before, Diana's earrings have cabochon sapphires, while Catherine Cambridge's have faceted stones only

Bobby

 

[alexander1917]

More from the Garter ceremony:
The Duchess of Cornwall wore Queen Elizabeth's citrine or topaz, or garnet brooch, pearl & diamond necklace and earrings and an interesting bracelet - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0dHp6fAa065SH/610x.jpg, http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/068mbtX9lfg8u/x610.jpg (two famous engament ring side by side )
The Duchess of Camdribge wore her diamond and topaz studs, a diamond (?) cross and the engagement ring - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0f6q2Dggos5L6/x610.jpg
The Countess of Wessex with diamond earrings - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/06yA7e683dgcu/x610.jpg
The Princess Royal wore her sappire and pearl drop earrings, along with the pearl and sapphire choker - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04d3fukc9ufQC/x610.jpg
Princess Alexandra wore her pearl and diamond drop earrings and a diamond riviere (Yes!) - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00BSgQHaXy2xg/610x.jpg

And last but not least, a clearer photo of The Queen's earrings - http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0b9dgzadUPgGw/x610.jpg

Bobby

nice to see Anne with MF's choker 2 times in such short time again.

 

[alexander1917]

Chapter 9: Other Dresses

There were quite a few other dresses on display as well. There was one that she never wore in public, which is this purple dress designed by Versace. Diana ordered this dress in 1996, so it is possible she planned to wear it later. This dress is not to be confused with another purple Versace that Diana wore on a trip to Chicago in 1996. That dress did not have the ruffle at the bottom.

.........Look at this picture from the event…it’s the Cambridge emerald choker and the emerald earrings Charles gave her as a wedding present! I didn’t think Diana wore any of the royal jewels after the divorce. She certainly never wore the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara.
quote]

this is not totally correct. the Lover's Knot Tiara returned to HM - when , I don't know, but at her death at the latest.
Diana wore the Saphire choker (which was originally a brooch and a gift from the Queen Mother) on 9th december 1996 and the Emerald Choker (formerly from Queen Mary matching the Dehli Emerald Parure, later owned by HM) on 1st July 1997. both dates are after the divorce.
and when you count the emerald earrings (from Charles) also under worn "royal" jewels you got a piece more.

 

[JewelFreak]

Looks like Diana is also wearing the Cambridge emerald bracelet, though it's hard to tell in this small of a pic. Another photo of probably the same time. She did have another diamond & emerald bracelet, didn't she? I recall one that had the stones alternating.

 

[prince.of.preslav]

this is not totally correct. the Lover's Knot Tiara returned to HM - when , I don't know, but at her death at the latest.
Diana wore the Saphire choker (which was originally a brooch and a gift from the Queen Mother) on 9th december 1996 and the Emerald Choker (formerly from Queen Mary matching the Dehli Emerald Parure, later owned by HM) on 1st July 1997. both dates are after the divorce.
and when you count the emerald earrings (from Charles) also under worn "royal" jewels you got a piece more.

The tiara and the emerald choker returned to The Queen after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Presumably, they've been in safe keeping for Princes William and Harry's wives. The choker, along with the rest of the parure, was part of an exhibition in Buckingham Palace that marked Elizabeth II's 80th birthday.
There's also a photo of Diana from after the divorce wearing her diamond necklace with the PoW feather pendant. So, she continued to wear her wedding presents from the Royal Family.
As to the tiara, there weren't events for her to wear between 1996 and 1997. In fact, the last tiara she wore a tiara was in 1993.

Looks like Diana is also wearing the Cambridge emerald bracelet, though it's hard to tell in this small of a pic. Another photo of probably the same time. She did have another diamond & emerald bracelet, didn't she? I recall one that had the stones alternating.

Diana never wore the bracelet from the Cambridge & Delhi Durbar parure. In this photo she's wearing her own (and only) bracelet with alternating diamonds and emeralds - a wedding present from her husband, bought at Wartski. The foremer Princess of Wales also wore her diamond bracelet.
This was also one of Diana's last public appearances and coincidented with her 36th birthday.
A larger and (slightly) clerer photo from the event: http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/52097832/Tim-Graham-Photo-Library

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Just the other day I was wondering when we'll see Elizabeth II wearing her lesser sapphire (and also ruby) jewels at the Garther ceremony, and I must say I was pleasently surprised today when I say these photos. Now there's another pair that must make an outing

I've seen The Queen wear these earrings a few other times (the first time in 2006, I believe), most notably at The King of Saudi Arabia's State Visit to the UK in 2007. This, of corse, makes me think that he has presented the British Queen with them (there's also a necklace and bracelet) at an earlier occasion.

Apparently I was wrong about this. The first time Elizabeth II wore this sapphire and diamond set was 2001 at 10 Downing Str.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/74916768/Tim-Graham-Photo-Library

Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

It's time for Ascot, guys! To get you in the mood, here's a photo of a regular visitor, known for her avant-garde head gear, wearing a beautiful dog collar.
Expect more photos later today.


http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/116030148/Getty-Images-Entertainment

Regards,
Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Obviously Getty's fast in uploading photos!
Here's HM The Queen with the City of London brooch (or at least I think that's how it's called) and the traditional pearls:

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/116034068/Getty-Images-Entertainment

Another regular attendee - HRH Princess Haya of Jordan wearing flower earrings with pink and purple stones (amethysts?):

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/116034103/Getty-Images-Entertainment

 

[alexander1917]

Obviously Getty's fast in uploading photos!
Here's HM The Queen with the City of London brooch (or at least I think that's how it's called) and the traditional pearls:

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/116034068/Getty-Images-Entertainment

Another regular attendee - HRH Princess Haya of Jordan wearing flower earrings with pink and purple stones (amethysts?):

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/116034103/Getty-Images-Entertainment

this site called it the diamond lily brooch

http://royal-jewels4.tripod.com/brooch/qe2/page-14.html

 

[QueenShelly]

So the gifts that Diana received from her wedding on, were hers to keep and pass on? Or some of them were royal jewels that were gifts but had to be returned? Like something borrowed something new?

 

[shadowed_rain]

I haven't posted here in a while (but definitely have been lurking!), and I want to extend a hearty, hearty thank you to LadyMaria. Thank you so much for posting such an in-depth description of the exhibit for all of us! Feels like we all experienced it with you

 

[alexander1917]

So the gifts that Diana received from her wedding on, were hers to keep and pass on? Or some of them were royal jewels that were gifts but had to be returned? Like something borrowed something new?

it was discussed so many times that the jewels were hers and later keept for the wifes of William and Harry.

and I still have the opinion that some items (choker, tiara) were only a lifelong loan from the Queen. (as part of the soveriegns trusted jewels)

 

[prince.of.preslav]

I haven't posted here in a while (but definitely have been lurking!), and I want to extend a hearty, hearty thank you to LadyMaria. Thank you so much for posting such an in-depth description of the exhibit for all of us! Feels like we all experienced it with you

The jewels from the royal family were hers to keep ans wear after the divorce, yet she couldn't sell or loan them to anybody. After the Princess' premature death, they were returned to The Queen, and are presumably kept to be worn by William & Harry's future wives. They were (are) considered life loans fromThe Queen to Lady Diana, rather than her personal property.

Hope that was helpful!
Bobby

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Here's the Daily Mail's article about today's horse races at Ascot with more photos - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...n-leads-way-Royals-attend-day-horse-race.html

Apparenly The Dcuhess of Cornwall wore the same ensemble as at the April wedding of The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge. The York Princesses looked nice, as did The Countess of Wessex, save for the pink things that grew out of her head and caused her hat to crook A rather nice outfit by The Princess Royal, though sadly it's hard to say what jewels she's wearing.
Looking forward to Thursday's Lady's Day.

Bobby

 

[loriken214]

Did CP Mary receive new jewelry for the birth of her twins? Are there any new photos of her to see? I've been laying low and have missed my friends here!

Lori

 

[prince.of.preslav]

Hi Lori! It's been a while since we last wrote
The only new thing about Mary's jewels is the alternation of her wedding tiara from all diamonds to diamonds and pearls. It's not known if she's received new jewels from her husband or in-laws after the birth of the twins. Hope to see some glittering photos of her later this week at the wedding of Princess Nathalie in Bad Berleburg.
HRH The Crown Princess of Denmark with the new version of her tiara - http://www.ppe-agency.com/preview.php?start=45&id=62051&zoektype=1&search=princess mary

Best,
Bobby

 

[loriken214]

Thank you Bobby! I'm looking forward to seeing more photos of Mary....she's so refreshing.

Have you noticed Catherine's new wardrobe? She looks amazing! I'm wondering what she received by way of jewelry for her wedding gifts...other than what we've already seen. William is a lucky guy!

Lori

 

[alexander1917]

Ascot day 2
Williamson pink brooch

 

[T L]

Ascot day 2
Williamson pink brooch

Of all HM's jewels, I have to say that the Williamson pink diamond brooch is my favorite!!!

 

[JewelFreak]

It's one of my favorites too, TL. And the setting.

P.S. Bobby, thanks on P. Diana's emerald bracelet. Impossible to find pictures of it big enough to see & I wasn't sure if she wore the Cambridge one or not. In trying to research Diana's diamond & emerald bracelet, you get mostly advertisements for "Jewelry JUST LIKE Diana's!"

Did she have 2 of those, by any chance? I remember a photo where it looked wider on her wrist & wondered if she wore a pair of them. Can't find the pic now & her wrist wasn't clearly visible anyway; it could have been an optical illusion.

--- Laurie

 

[prince.of.preslav]

I was more or less wrong when I said that The Duchess of Cambridge's earrings that she wore at the Service for HRH The Duke of Edinburgh's 90th birthday didn't come from her mother-in-law. Just today I was able to see some close-ups of The Duchess and the sapphires are darker than I'd previously thought. Each sapphire is surrounded by 9 white diamonds. They were worn by Diana for one of her Vogue sesions. Back then the 2 sapphires and the 20 diamonds were attached to another sapphire and diamond cluster:



I was right, however, that they were not the same as the ones from the photo posted here

Bobby