#The Queen Mother’s Sapphire and Diamond Fringe Earrings

[the-jewel-catalogue]

The Queen Mother’s Sapphire and Diamond Fringe Earrings

As the name suggests, the charming earrings belonged to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. She wore them mostly for black-tie (read: non-tiara) gala occasions.  The fringe detail, plus the combination of round and baguette diamonds, suggests an Art Deco-era creation. The faceted sapphire set in the center of each earring is a gorgeous deep blue color.

~ The Court Jeweller

[world-of-wales]

CATHERINE'S STYLE FILES - 2015

27 OCTOBER 2015 || The Duchess of Cambridge attended the annual 100 Women In Hedge Funds Gala Dinner at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

[warwickroyals]

Sunderland's Royal Jewel Vault (16/∞) ♛

↬ The Boucheron Lattice Tiara

Another giant in the royal family's treasure trove, the Lattice Tiara, also known as the Gordon Tiara, takes some serious experience to pull off. Made by Boucheron in the early 20th century, the tiara wasn't originally of royal origin, passing from jewelry box to jewelry box for the better part of forty years. Eventually, in 1941, it was scooped up by the Hon. Mrs. Martha Gordon, a society hostess who was a friend of King James II and Queen Katherine, then the newlywed Duke and Duchess of Woodbine. The Gordons were spectacular hosts, but by the early 60s the couple had racked up a significant amount of debt, fuelled by Mrs. Gordon's expensive taste in clothes and her husband's gambling addiction. These debts eventually caused the couple to be evicted from their West Warwick penthouse, with several of their belongings being sold or repossessed. To alleviate their friends' hardships, James and Katherine purchased several pieces of expensive jewelry from the couple. The idiocy of Mrs and Mr Gordon is something to behold. Dowager Queen Anne wrote in her diary around the time of purchase. I warned Jimmmie against such an outrageous purchase, but he was adamant. Kitten and I look after our friends, he said. One wonders what those two have that's worth such a pretty penny! It's better not to indebt yourself to your inferiors, but I suppose I'm close-minded in my old age. Jim said that, too. To this day the full extent of the purchase is unknown, but it is said to have included a diamond necklace, a pair of diamond chandelier earrings, a sapphire necklace, a gaudy fringe necklace, and at least two tiaras. It was the Boucheron tiara, with its delicate lattice patterning that became a favourite of Queen Katherine. I admit, I've coveted this [tiara] for years [. . .] It never suited Martha's head, anyway. — Queen Katherine in a private letter, spring circa 1962 For the remainder of her life, Katherine wore the lattice tiara consistently. Even after her husband died in 1970, she continued to sport the tiara at high-profile events. The tiara was an interesting part of Katherine's tiara evolution, showcasing how the Queen graduated from small, light-weight tiaras, to heftier, more dramatic pieces. When Katherine died in 2018, it was inherited by her son, King Louis V, and in 2026, it was worn by Tatiana, Princess of Danforth for the first time. The upgrade in jewelry, despite the princess's widowhood, was viewed as a reformation of her status and role as the mother of the future sovereign.

HM Queen Katherine wears the Gordon tiara at the George League Gala concert on April 25, 1970. She pairs the tiara with teardrop earrings also acquired in the 1962 Gordon Purchase and Queen Matilda Mary's Wedding Necklace

HRH Tatiana, Princess of Danforth wears the Gordon tiara at a banquet for international heads of government on May 23, 2027. She also wears the Gordon fringe necklace. The banquet was attended by over 5000 delegates.

[princesscatherineblog]

The Princess of Wales looked beautiful in a stunning royal blue dress and sapphire earrings at a royal reception held at Buckingham Palace on Friday evening, alongside other members of the royal family and foreign guests.

Kate wore an elegant blue Self Portrait dress with a draped neckline and the Queen Mother's Diamond and Sapphire Fringe earrings for the event, which was hosted by King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla ahead of their historic coronation on Saturday.

[the-empress-7]

It looks like she is wearing the Queen Mother’s Sapphire and Diamond fringe earrings.

[thetravelerwrites]

Courtship of the Headless King: Chapter One

Rating: General Audiences Fandoms: 忘却の首と姫 | Boukyaku no Shirushi to Hime | The Princess and The Forgotten Head Relationship: Female Human/Male Headless King Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Political Marriage, Power Dynamic, Headless King Words: 4366

This is not my original work!

This is a fan retelling of one of my favorite mangas, Boukyaki no Shirushi to Hime, whose original mangaka sadly passed away in 2014, leaving the series unfinished. I will start at the beginning of the manga and go through the entire story that has already been written. Once I reach chapter 20, which is the end of the published chapters, I will have to start extrapolating and imagining how the story may have played out. I hope I can do the original story justice and not disgrace the original author.

I will say that I will be fixing a few things that made me uncomfortable about the original manga, in that the female protagonist was 15, which I didn't like. Otherwise I will try to stick as close to the original story as possible, though I will be arranging it so that it's a bit more linear.

I hope you enjoy!

“Blessings to you, my lady,” The visitor said, bowing deeply in greeting. “My name is Aquamarine. I am a servant of the high king of Banfarie and a chosen attendant to the future queen.”

The summons wasn’t necessarily a shock, but it was definitely a surprise. Lilya, the third princess of the former kingdom of Tritsia, had come of age during a bloody war between kingdoms to either side, and her small, impoverished land had been caught in the crossfire. Tritsia had been absorbed by the victorious kingdom to the east, Couliea, and was now a vassal state. As such, the royal family of Tritsia were now hardly more than paupers in their own kingdom.

Lilya assumed that she would no longer be eligible for the marriage interviews that were famously, or perhaps infamously, conducted five times every month in the largest empire in the continent, Banfarie. The interviews had been happening since before she had even been born, but as of yet, no queen had been selected. Or rather, no woman had accepted.

The rules for who would be chosen for the interviews was standard for most monarchs looking for a queen: a woman of royal or noble blood with proof of lineage, at least eighteen years old but no older that twenty five, no previous marriages or engagements, no children, and… well… consent.

Lilya met most of the criteria… except for one thing: she wasn’t a high born woman anymore. Her family’s royal status had ended when the kingdom was absorbed into another. Besides, even when her father had been king, they had never exactly been what anyone would consider proper royalty. Her father worked in the fields with his people, doing the same back-breaking labor as his subjects. Back then, she could hardly be called princess, but now she was nothing more than a peasant farm girl, more suited to feeding chickens and mucking out stables than attending grand balls and high teas.

So there had been quite a stir when their unusual guest came to deliver the summons. She was a woman who appeared very young in age, no more than perhaps sixteen, though she spoke as if she were a far older creature. She had a short bob haircut and a thick fringe, but it wasn’t enough to hide her pointed ears, her sharp eyes, and her upswept eyebrows, belying a nature that wasn’t human.

Her cloak was plain, but well-made and of fine cloth, likely silk or satin. She had all the hallmarks of a servant of a wealthy, prosperous nation. She had been given entrance to the house by the only servant Lilya’s family employed, Sebastian, and was standing in the receiving room with Lilya’s mother and aunt.

“I come with greetings from my Lord King, to relay a question and to present a gift to you, beloved princess.”

Lilya tilted her head. “A gift? His Majesty didn’t need to send a gift.”

Aquamarine simply chuckled and bowed. “From his Majesty, with his kindest regards.” From her cloak, she produced a velveteen box and opened it, revealing a tiara of breathtaking beauty. Sizable diamonds and sapphires lined the circlet and rose up to create a lovely sloped and winding style like that of wind on water. It was a crown that would suit any head it rested upon.

“Oh!” Lilya breathed. “It’s breathtaking!” She rushed to her mother in delight. “This is the answer to the famine on the outskirts in the south! If we sell the tiara at the biggest market in the neighboring kingdom, we could feed the farmers for months, maybe a year!”

“Lilya!” Her aunt exclaimed in horror. “How could you suggest such a thing? This was a gift from a king, for goodness sake, you can’t just sell it!”

“But, Auntie, I can’t hoard something like this when people are starving!”

“You would not wear it?” Aquamarine asked, her face shrewdly assessing. “Is it not to your liking?”

“Oh, no, that’s not it at all!” Lilya insisted earnestly. “It’s lovely, more so than anything I’ve ever seen. I’ve never worn anything so extravagant. But… truly, for me to wear it would be like putting silk ribbons on a pig. It would be far less useful as a trinket in my wardrobe and better as a tool to feed the hungry. I’m afraid that Couliea doesn’t pay much attention to our struggles, so we have to fend for ourselves. This,” Lilya gently took the box from Aquamarine and turned it so that she could see the tiara properly. “This is indeed a kingly gift. This will save lives. There is no more noble a gift as that.” She bowed her head and handed the box back gingerly. “If his Majesty would not be pleased with my conduct, I understand, but I would hope he would see the sense in my actions.”

Aquamarine laughed a little. “I do not think his Majesty will be displeased. Quite the opposite. Even still,” Aquamarine set the box down on the table and carefully pried a dangling jewel from the very center, threading it through a silver chain she had worn around her own neck, and placed it on Lilya. “His Majesty will want confirmation that his gift was received. This will suffice.”

“Then I shall wear it to the marriage interview,” Lilya said, patting it fondly.

Aquamarine’s head cocked back in surprise. “I had not even had the chance to ask you, and yet you’re agreeing to go?”

“Well, yes,” Lilya said. “That’s why you’ve come to call on me, isn’t it?”

“Of course,” Aquamarine said with a smirk. “But usually it takes much more convincing on my part. I don’t believe I’ve ever met someone so… eager.”

“At the very least, I have to thank him for his generosity,” Lilya said. “Even if he decides I’m not a good match for him, I have to express my gratitude in person.”

“You’re not scared? I’m certain you’ve heard the rumors about my Lord King.”

“Well… yes,” Lilya admitted. “I won’t lie and say I’m not apprehensive, but kindness like this can’t go unacknowledged. It’s only right that I meet with him.”

Where Aquamarine’s smile had been playful and mischievous before, it was now wide and warm. “I will happily go now and inform his Majesty of your decision. My sisters and I will return in a fortnight to collect you for your interview. You may bring a guest with you, if you wish, though I assure you that you’ll be quite safe in our care.”

“I have no doubt that’s true,” Lilya said, bowing. “Would you like some refreshments to take with you on your trip back?”

“How kind of you, dear, but that won’t be necessary,” Aquamarine said, patting Lilya’s cheek. “We shall return in two weeks. You make sure you take care now. Our Lord King would be much distressed should something happen to you in the meantime.”

Aquamarine snapped her fingers, and there was a flash of light from which everyone in the room had to shield their eyes. When they blinked, the young woman was gone.

“Witch...” Sebastian said in horror. “My Lady, you can’t meet with this monster! What kind of king employs such demons?”

“Likely someone who understands that people like them also need to earn a living, I’d imagine,” Lilya said reasonably. “Besides, I’ve already agreed and accept his gift. I can’t go back on my word.”

“I can’t believe you’d actually sell such a treasure,” Your aunt said disapprovingly. “You’re so like your father.”

She didn’t mean that in a good way. Lilya’s mother’s sister, Kiya, had always disliked her father and resented him for being too weak a king, unable to protect his people during the war. She had also resented Lilya ever since she had been born. There was worry that Sophie would not be able to carry another child at her age, and that the royal line would end as there would be no male heir to Tritsia.

The birth of Lilya’s little brother shortly before her father’s death was not enough to warm Kiya to Lilya. In fact, it seemed to drive the wedge even further, as Sophie and her brother were both terribly weak afterward and there was concern they wouldn’t survive. Kiya had gone so far as to blame Lilya, telling her that it would have been her fault if they died. As a nine year old, she couldn’t imagine what she’d have done to cause such a terrible thing, but now she understood it was just her aunt lashing out.

Perhaps it was because Lilya resembled her father the most out of all her siblings, or because she was most like him in temperament, but she doubted Kiya would ever view her favorably. She was still family, though, and Lilya tried not to take her criticism to heart, though her aunt’s cutting eyes often wore into her painfully.

“I’m doing this for our country, even if it no longer exists,” Lilya said, determinedly putting the box away in a case so that Sebastian could take it to the neighboring kingdom for appraisal. “The king has called for me. The least I can do is answer.”

“Lilya’s right, Kiya,” Lilya’s mother, Sophie, said reluctantly. “It would be improper for us to take his gift and ignore him. Though I can’t say that I’m pleased with the idea of this.” Sophie sighed unhappily. “Lilya would have been expected to marry soon as it is. I supposed we couldn’t hope for better than a king.” Sophie took her daughter’s hands in her own. “Still, I’m very worried. I should come with you.”

“No, Mama, they need you here. You’ll have to be the one to make sure that the tiara gets a fair price and oversee the distribution of the food to the needy. I’ll be fine on my own, and besides, Aquamarine said that she and her sisters were part of the Queen’s guard, and I liked her very much. I couldn’t be any safer.”

Lilya’s mother grimaced. “That doesn’t make me feel better. You have many lovely qualities, my sweet child, but being a good judge of character is not among them. All anyone needs to do is tell you a sad story for you to want to take them under your wing, regardless of their true intentions.” She smiled fondly. “You’re much like your father in that respect.”

Lilya smiled in return. “Father was not a good king,” She said sadly. “But he was a good man.”

“With that, I cannot argue,” Sophie said, but she frowned in distress. “You’re elder sisters had married before they got the summons, so I’ve never met with the king. Your father met with him only once, during a conference of kings, but he never told us anything about him other than he found him to be… striking. I think he didn’t tell us more because he want to frighten us.”

“Have you heard much about him?” Lilya asked anxiously.

“Reports are varied and hard to believe; that the king is a headless monster, thousands of years old, ten feet tall, winged and hulking, who eats the women who refused him. I’m not sure I believed any of that, but the rumors are still enough to make me trepidatious.”

Sebastian grumbled, his mustache shuddering. “It is the rumors that could be true that make me uneasy.”

“How do you mean?”

“I am an old man now,” Sebastian said. “Well into my seventies, so I remember when the interviews began sixty years ago. In all that time, and no queen of Banfarie has been chosen. It concerns me. The king himself may now be an old man.”

“Is that why he’s being turned down?” Lilya asked.

“No, young madam,” He said. “You see, even before the interviews began, Banfarie had no queen in nearly one hundred years. In fact, since that time, no new kings had been crowned, either. The king from one hundred years ago was an elusive man who few had ever met, and those who did were terrified of him. If the current king is that man’s successor, it’s certainly distressing. But if he is the same man, then he is a creature of deeply evil magic, and Lady Lilya should stay far away from him.”

“Even if he were the same man, which should be impossible, his reputation is less than ideal,” Sophie said pensively. “The house of Banfarie is known historically for it’s cruelty and harsh punishments, even of neighboring kingdoms. It instituted a law that allowed Banfarie to make judgments on the conduct of royals, indict them criminally, and even sentence retribution against them, up to and including execution. The neighboring kingdoms pushed back against this, of course, but eventually they all fell in line and wrote it into their countries’ laws. I don’t trust any man who could wield that level of power over others.”

“But think of what that level of influence could do for Tritsia!” Kiya said. “A king with that kind of power could protect us and provide for us!”

Sophie shivered. “I don’t want to know what he would want in return for that protection.”

“Well, I would think that’s be obvious,” Kiya said, looking pointedly at Lilya.

Sophie, normally a mild, even-tempered woman, grew angry. “And you’re alright with that, are you? You’re willing to sell my youngest daughter to a monster if it benefits you?”

“Sophie, don’t be sentimental,” Kiya said, folding her arms. “Political marriages are common for royalty. If we had been a stronger country, this would be completely normal, even for a third daughter.”

“We’re not royalty anymore,” Sophie said firmly.

“But we could be, that’s the point!”

“Please, don’t fight,” Lilya said, getting between the two sisters. “I’ve already made the decision. Kiya is right; if I were to marry His Majesty of Banfarie, our kingdom would then be his responsibility rather than that of Couliea. However he treats that responsibility, it can’t be worse than the wanton destruction from the war or the indifferent cruelty of Couliea. If he accepts me, even if it is only a political marriage and nothing more, it would greatly benefit us both. He would at last gain the queen he’s been searching for and our country will be protected. I will meet him. Perhaps the rumors are wrong.”

“I can only hope,” Sophie remarked grimly. After throwing an angry look at her sister, she pulled Lilya away from Kiya and spoke in an undertone. “But… is this what you really want?”

“I want my family and people safe and well above all,” Lilya said. “If this king can offer that, then I can ask for nothing more.”

“If this is what you wish,” Her mother said slowly. “Then I will respect it. But… it is not what I would wish for you.”

“I know, Mama,” Lilia said. “We don’t always get what we truly wish for. But this is as close as I can get.”

“If the king accepts you,” Lilya’s mother remarked sadly. “We may never see you again.”

“That may not be true. I would hope that his Majesty wouldn’t prevent me from seeing my family once I settle in.”

“Just be careful, my love,” Her mother said, pulling her into a hug. “Be careful.”

As promised, Aquamarine returned in a fortnight to collect Lilya to take her to the capitol of Banfarie, Rukruf. A carriage had come with them for Lilya’s comfort.

“Couldn’t you transport me like you did the day you first came?”

“I’m afraid that’s a rather disorienting way to travel for humans, My Lady,” Aquamarine said, taking Lilya’s luggage. “It would require some degree of acclamation, and I don’t think his Majesty would want you to be sick during your interview.” She lifted Lilya’s bag up with one hand. “Is this all you’re bringing with you?”

“This is all I have,” Lilya replied simply. “You admit that you’re not human?”

“I was never attempting to hide it. I’m a spirit, specifically an stone spirit, as are my sisters. There they are now.”

She jerked her head toward the carriage. There were two more women identical to Aquamarine near the carriage, one in the driver’s box and another holding open the door to the carriage. All three women had short, pale lavender colored hair and large, glittering eyes. They wore identical uniforms similar to that of an attendant, but the skirts were rather short, stopping just below the knee, giving them a freer rang of movement. Each one had a dagger hanging from their hip.

Both new sisters bowed deeply as Lilya approached.

“My lady,” They said in unison.

“Garnet,” Aquamarine said, pointing to the driver,and then to the coach-woman. “And Peridot.”

“I don’t doubt the three of you are sisters; I can’t tell you apart,” Lilya said.

“Ah, but see?” Peridot said, pointing to a white bow on the right side of her hair in the shape of a butterfly. She then pointed to Garnet, who wore a black butterfly bow on her left side, and to Aquamarine, who wore no bow at all. “Even people who know us well have trouble distinguishing us from the other, so we’ve taken to wearing these. Only his Majesty can tell us apart without them.”

“Here, my Lady,” Peridot said, swinging a beautiful, fur-lined, snow-white cloak around Lilya’s shoulders. “We’ll be going through the mountains and it’s likely to get cold. His Majesty had this made for you.”

“Oh, it’s lovely,” Lilya said, petting the soft, veltvety collar that ruffed around her neck. “I’m starting to get anxious about meeting him.”

“In a good way or a bad way?” Peridot asked ash she helped Lilya up into the carriage.

“I can’t tell,” Lilya replied, laughing nervously.

“Don’t be nervous,” Peridot said as she came in and closed the door behind her, rapping sharply on the roof before settling. “His Majesty is only a threat to humans.”

Lilya looked at Peridot in alarm.

“It was a joke,” Peridot assured her, giggling. “…mostly.”

The carriage lurched forward and Aquamarine put a hand out to steady Lilya before she fell out of her seat.

“When will we arrive?”

“Around sunset tomorrow,” Aquamarine replied. “We’ll continue on through the night rather than stop at an inn. His Majesty is eager to meet you.”

“Won’t you be tired?” Lilya asked.

“Not to worry,” Aquamarine said. “Spirits like us don’t need much sleep, only a few hours a week. We’re all rested up.”

“That’s amazing. I wish I could do that.”

“Yes, it is awfully handy,” Peridot said rather smugly. “Are you hungry? We’ve brought things for you to eat.”

The two days passed pleasantly and Lilya spent the time having long, friendly conversations with all three sisters. Lilya had never had lady friends her age, and though the women were spirits and likely far older than she was, they seemed to enjoy her company and asked her many questions.

“Oh, Lady, come and see!” Garnet said, pointing out of the window. “You can see the capitol city from this vantage!”

Delighted, Lilya looked out of the window where Garnet was pointing. “It’s huge!” She exclaimed. “I can’t even see the end of it! It must be as large as my entire country!”

“Your country is larger by about fifty miles, in fact,” Aquamarine said. “It’s the smallest country on the continent.”

“Yes, that sounds right,” She sighed. “I mean, I didn’t know that for sure, but I’m not surprised.”

“Are you sad to be from such a small country?”

“No,” She replied. “My country is beautiful and my people are good. I just wish we were better able to defend ourselves.”

“Well, you may not have that problem anymore,” Aquamarine said. “We’re nearly there.”

“Will I meet his Majesty today?”

“No, you will be tired from the trip and will rest for tonight. He will conduct your interview tomorrow after you have your breakfast. His Majesty has instructed us to see to your every comfort.”

“That’s just going to make me more anxious,” Lilya said.

“The best things are worth waiting for,” Peridot said.

That evening, they arrived at the castle, which was every bit as colossal as described. Over it was a cloud of purple, blue, and pink particles, as if it were perpetual sunset over the castle.

“What is that?”

“It’s called the Aurora,” Garnet said. “It’s a magical field that has existed over the castle for hundreds of years and is the source of the royal family’s magical power. It ascends and descends over the castle, depending on how the king feels. It’s highly reactive to his emotional state.”

“Oh, goodness,” Lilya said. “It’s rather low right now. What does that mean?”

“Hmm…” Garnet said. “I believe he may be feeling rather withdrawn.”

“I wonder why that would be,” Lilya mused.

Standing at the front steps of the castle as they pulled up were two young men in uniform, one blond and one dark haired. The blond wore glasses and seemed to be the junior of the two. They bowed as Lilya exited the carriage.

“Miss Lilya, these are the King’s personal attendants, Larima,” She gestured at the dark haired one first, and then to the blond. “And Raba. They are meeting you in place of his Majesty today.”

“Does that mean his Majesty is watching?” Lilya asked, looking up at the windows.

“Whether he is or is not,” Larima said as he straightened. “We are pleased to meet you, My Lady. Please allow us to show you to your room.”

“Yes, thank you,” Lilya replied. Curiously, she noticed as they turned that there appeared to be leaves growing out of their hair.

The sisters were following behind her at a short distance. “Are they spirits, too?” Lilya asked them in an undertone.

“Yes,” Peridot said. “They’re tree spirits. All of the staff employed at his Majesty’s main castle are not human.”

“Why?”

“His Majesty distrusts humans,” Aquamarine replied.

“But isn’t his Majesty human?” Lilya asked in confusion.

“Yes,” Peridot responded.

“And no,” Garnet said.

Lilya made a noise of uncertainty under her breath.

“Don’t worry, my Lady,” Garnet said. “You’ll understand tomorrow.”

“This is all very ominous,” Lilya said uncertainly.

“Yes!” Peridot said. “Isn’t it exciting?”

Before she could answer, she was lead to an opulent guestroom, far larger than any of the rooms in her home, filled with luxurious furniture and carefully crafted decorations.

“This can’t be my room,” Lilya said with a laugh. “What would I do with all this space?”

Raba and Larima exchanged looks. “Do you dislike it? We have a number of other rooms. You’re free to choose any one of them.”

“Oh, it’s not like that,” Lilya said hastily. “It’s beautiful, I adore it. Please, it’s not that I’m ungrateful, I just feel like… I don’t know… isn’t it wasted on me?”

The triplets sighed sadly, having become used to Lilya’s unusual behavior, but the men continued to look confused.

“You do realize that if his Majesty chooses you and you accept, you’ll be queen?” Raba asked. “This,” He gestured at the room. “Is nothing compared to the queen’s suite.”

“Oh…” Lilya replied, a little disconcerted. “This will take some getting used to.”

“I understand,” Larima said. “You’re the princess from Tritsia, correct? The smallest, poorest kingdom on the continent, now a captured vassal state of Couliea. I suppose you must not be accustomed to living so resplendently.”

“Larima!” Aquamarine hissed. “Don’t be so tactless!”

Lilya laughed a little, relieved. “No, it’s alright. I’m not used to this at all, that’s true. Will that bother his Majesty?”

Larima smiled and shook his head. “No, I shouldn’t think so. Don’t worry so much about what’s appropriate and just enjoy your time here. Come.” He lead Lilya inside and showed her two cords right next to the bed, a small blue cord and a larger red cord. “The blue cord is attached to a bell in the queen’s attendants’ quarters. If you need for anything, just ring it and one of the triplets will be here in an instant. The red one is an alarm. If you pull it, bells will go off all throughout the castle. Ring it only if it’s an emergency.”

“I understand,” Lilya said. “Thank you for your hospitality.”

Raba and Larima bowed and left, and the triplets ushered Lilya into an adjacent dining room to have dinner.

After a restless night of sleep and a breakfast she barely touched, Lilya was dressed in a lovely blue gown that complimented her hair, which was pulled back with matching ribbons. The bodice was tight but comfortable, the cut of the dress was simple but elegant, and for the first time, Lilya felt like a proper grown woman.

A knock on the door revealed Raba.

“His Majesty is ready for you and is waiting in his office,” He said.

Lilya stood and clenched her hands to stop them from shaking and followed Raba out of her quarters with Garnet and Aquamarine following behind her.

“Don’t worry, my Lady,” Garnet said. “I think the king will like you very much.”

“You do?”

“Oh yes,” Aquamarine replied. “We’re more concerned whether or not you’ll like him.”

“Why wouldn’t I like him?” She asked.

“Well…” Garnet began regretfully, but then stopped.

“Here we are,” Raba said, gesturing to a set of large double doors. “One moment please.” Raba knocked on the door. “Your Majesty, I have retrieved Lady Lilya for her interview. Are you ready?”

There was silence, though Raba tilted his head as if he were listening.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Raba opened one of the doors and stood aside. “You may enter.”

Gulping, checking that the pendant was in place, and taking a deep breath, Lilya stepped inside.

There, standing rail-straight behind a desk, was a tall, thin man wearing elaborate garments in keeping with his status as a king and emperor, as well as a sash and badges of his station. Almost immediately, one of the many rumors about the king was confirmed with Lilya’s own eyes.

His Imperial Majesty, the king of Banfarie, had no head.

Since my work is no longer searchable, please do me a favor and reblog this story if you enjoyed it. Help me reach a wider audience! To help me continue creating, please consider becoming a Patron or donating directly to my PayPal!

Thanks for reading!

My Masterlist

The Exophilia Creator’s Masterlist

[princesscatherinemiddleton]

WALK, WALK, FASHION BABY | For the dreaded US State Visit to the UK, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a toilet roll white gown, with rows of ruffled lace, by Alexander McQueen. To accessorise, she wore the Queen Mother’s Sapphire and Diamond Fringe earrings and Queen Mary’s Lovers Knot Tiara. She was also wearing the Royal Victorian Order sash and badge and the Royal Family Order.

[alexandraandangus]

I really hope Flora gets one of granny’s tiaras for her wedding!

That would be quite exciting to see her in her grandmother’s tiara!

Considering that Princess Alexandra only owns one tiara, I think it unlikely that she will receive it as a gift. I do think it is a real possibility that we will see her wear some of her grandmother’s jewelry!

If you are unaware, Princess Alexandra’s only personal tiara is the Ogilvy tiara.  I sincerely hope this tiara stays in the family and is not sold, but perhaps worn by her daughter or daughter-in-law despite that they are both commoners. It was commissioned by Angus Ogilvy shortly after their engagement. The tiara is a design of diamond ribbons flowing around floral hair ornaments she originally wore throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. 

Here she wears the ornaments during a reception with King Gustaf VI in May of 1962 during a visit to Stockholm. Sometimes the ornaments were worn a headband of sorts but were also worn singularly.

Princess Alexandra debuted the Ogilvy tiara on 22 April 1963, at their wedding ball at Windsor Castle hosted by Queen Elizabeth. Along with the tiara, Mr Ogilvy gifted her with a necklace designed after Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee necklace and coordinating earrings. Princess Alexandra has made the most of this set by switching the stones between pearls, sapphires, and turquoises. It can be quite confusing since we have seen HRH wear various different tiaras and bandeaus, including...

The Kent City of London Fringe Tiara

This tiara was a wedding gift from the City of London to her mother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. A common misconception is that Princess Marina wore this tiara on her wedding day, but she actually wore an almost identical style that was owned by her mother, Princess Nicholas of Greece. The tiara was inherited by Prince Michael and worn by Princess Michael at her wedding celebration. Most recently, Lady Gabriella Kingston (née Windsor) wore the tiara at her wedding in May of 2019.

The Kent Festoon Tiara

Princess Marina loaned Princess Alexandra her Kent festoon tiara for the Nigerian independence celebrations in October of 1960. Little is known about the origin of this tiara, but Princess Marina wore it throughout her life and left it to her younger son, Prince Michael. The Kent festoon tiara is still worn by Princess Michael. 

The Russian Pearl Bandeau

This bandeau has a rich history originating with Princess Alexandra’s great-grandmother, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia. She gifted it to her daughter, Princess Nicholas of Greece, as a wedding gift. She then gifted it to her daughter, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, as a wedding gift. Princess Alexandra wore this bandeau several times, but it is unknown if she received it as a wedding gift as well. Unfortunately, this bandeau had to be sold to help pay the estate taxes after the death of Princess Marina. This was one the last times Princess Alexandra wore this bandeau in September of 1968. It is unknown who owns the bandeau today.

Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau (or Crochet Tiara)

This bandeau was bought by Queen Mary in 1925 and wore it several times. It was inherited by Princess Marina who let Princess Alexandra wear it on multiple occasions. The bandeau was also worn by the current Duchess of Kent at her wedding in 1961. It was passed on to the Duchess of Kent following Princess Marina’s death in 1968. It is thought that the bandeau was redesigned into small pearl and diamond fringe tiara frequently worn by the Duchess of Kent,  her daughter, Lady Helen Taylor (née Windsor) at her wedding, and her daughter-in-law, Sylvana, Countess of St. Andrews.

Thank you so much for your message and hope you learned a few things!

[malkalaila]

Jewelry Kate has borrowed from the Queen’s collection | 17/?

Jewels: The Queen Mother’s sapphire and diamond fringe earrings

[skippyv20]

Thank you😊❤️❤️❤️❤️

The Duchess of Cambridge`s  style moments

SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 - For Princess Charlotte’s first day of school, the Duchess of Cambridge chose a lovely pink floral dress, which she paired with pointy toe pumps and a black, waist-defining belt.

JULY 14, 2019 - the Duchess wore a pretty, custom Emilia Wickstead dress for the Men’s Finals Day of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.

July 02, 2019 - The Duchess looked classic in this black and white dress at day 2 of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.

JULY 1, 2019 - The Duchess of Cambridge chose a patterned Sandro dress for a picnic with children from several of her patronages at Hampton Court Palace.

JUNE 18, 2019 - The Duchess chose an Elie Saab dress and matching pale blue hat for the first day of Royal Ascot. Silver heels and a metallic clutch finished off the look.

JUNE 17, 2019 - She attended the Order of the Garter ceremony wearing a white collared Catherine Walker coat dress with black piping, a black hat, pearl earrings, and black pumps. The Duchess was joined by the Queen, Prince William, Prince Charles, and other members of the royal family for the service.

JUNE 12, 2019 - The Duchess of Cambridge chose a shimmering off-the-shoulder dress for the first annual gala dinner in recognition of Addiction Awareness Week at Phillips Gallery. She paired the look with glittering pumps and a small silver clutch.

JUNE 10, 2019 - The mother-of-three wore a LK Bennett dress for a family trip to the polo . She accessorised the ensemble with her go-to pair Castañer wedges and a punchy Mulberry cross-body bag

JUNE 8, 2019 - For the annual Trooping the Colour parade, the Duchess chose a light yellow dress by Alexander McQueen, with a hat by Philip Treacy.

JUNE 3, 2019 - The Duchess wore a tiered Alexander McQueen gown to a state banquet with Donald Trump. She paired the dress with the Lover’s Knot Tiara, and the Queen Mother’s sapphire and diamond fringe earrings.

MAY 21, 2019 - At one of the Queen’s Garden Parties, on the grounds of Buckingham Palace, Kate paired a coatdress—from one of her all-time favourite designers, Alexander McQueen—with a headpiece by Juliette Botterill.

MAY 20, 2019 - To show the Queen a garden she’d designed at the Chelsea Flower Show, the Duchess went for a high-necked, floral Erdem dress, along with a pair of summery espadrilles.

MAY 14, 2019 During a visit to Bletchley Park—the WWII-era facility where codebreakers, including the Duchess’s grandmother, worked to decipher Axis messages—the Duchess recycled a navy polka-dot dress from Alessandra Rich. She accessorised the dress with a pin designed to look like a gear from the Enigma machine, a device made at Bletchley Park.

MAY 7, 2019 - The Duchess of Cambridge chose a nautical look for this morning’s launch of the King’s Cup. She paired a striped shirt with sailor-inspired trousers and a bright red handbag.

APRIL 25, 2019 - The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at this year’s Anzac Day service wearing a bright blue coatdress and matching hat.

MARCH 19, 2019 - The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Kings College London wearing a gray Catherine Walker Coat Dress with black trim. She paired the look with black tights and pumps and a Sylvia Fletcher for Lock Hatters hat. She also carried a small black clutch.  

MARCH 17, 2019 - For her annual St. Patrick’s Day visit to the Irish Guards, Kate Middleton wore a dark green Alexander McQueen coat, Kiki McDonough green tourmaline and amethyst drop earrings, a green fascinator, and the traditional gold Shamrock brooch.

MARCH 12, 2019 - the Duchess attended the National Portrait Gallery Gala wearing a re-tailored Alexander McQueen dress, that she previously wore in 2017, Kiki McDonough earrings, and a Prada clutch.

MARCH 12, 2019 - The Duchess chose a wide-legged trouser paired with a purple pussybow blouse for her visit to the Henry Fawcett Children’s Centre. She paired the look with a small top-handled bag and black pumps.

MARCH 11, 2019 - For Commonwealth Day services, Kate stepped out in a bright red coatdress with a matching hat.

MARCH 5, 2019 - The Duchess wore a pale blue dress with nude heels and a small clutch to a celebration at Buckingham Palace in honour of the 50th anniversary of Prince Charles’s investiture as the Prince of Wales.

FEBRUARY 13, 2019 - Kate Middleton arrived to the 100 Women in Finance Gala at the Victoria & Albert Museum wearing a rose-coloured gown by Gucci. The duchess paired the look with a raspberry velvet clutch that matched her belt and pear-shaped drop earrings.

FEBRUARY 13, 2019 - Duchess Catherine arrived at the Royal Foundation‘s ‘Mental Health in Education’ Conference wearing a dark tweed skirt suit paired with black tights and pumps. She was also carrying a small black clutch.

FEBRUARY 10, 2019 - Duchess Kate attended the BAFTAs this year in a flowing white gown paired with a romantic updo and a pair of Princess Diana’s earrings.

JANUARY 16, 2019 - On a visit to the Royal Opera House’s Costume Department, the Duchess opted for an Oscar de la Renta skirted suit and Rupert Sanderson pumps.

JANUARY 15, 2019 - Catherine Duchess of Cambridge visit to King Henry’s Walk Community Garden, Islington, London, UK  

[theroyalweekly]

Our first look at Kate as she leaves Kensington Palace for tonight's State Dinner. It looks like she is wearing the Lover's Knot tiara and the Queen Mother's Sapphire and Diamond Fringe Earrings. -- WhatKateWore.com

[world-of-wales]

CATHERINE'S STYLE FILES - 2023

5 MAY 2023 || The Princess of Wales attended the Reception for overseas guests ahead of the coronation at Buckingham Palace in London.

Catherine opted for -

↬  Crystal-Embellished Wrap-Effect Crepe Midi Dress in Blue by Self Portrait

↬  Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother’s Sapphire and Diamond Fringe Earrings

↬  'Casa' Clutch in Silver by Jenny Packham

[lilyabsinthe]

When we think of a wedding dress today, we usually envision a bright eggshell white dress trimmed with lace. However, this has not always been the case and this was especially true during the 19th Century; the concept of an all-white dress solely dedicated to being used on only the wedding day was relatively limited to the more wealthy women because of the expense. The reality was that wedding dresses came in a variety of colors and styles, often dictated by finances, availability of materials, and location. In many instances, the wedding dress was simply a woman’s “best dress” and was worn on formal occasions long after the wedding itself.

The color white has not always been associated with weddings per se in Western culture although is has been associated with purity. For example, during the Middle Ages, white was actually considered the color of mourning. During the 19th Century, the association of white with weddings (e.g., white weddings) is said to have begun with Queen Victoria’s marriage to Prince Albert on February 10, 1840 when Victoria wore a white (or more properly a cream-colored) wedding gown. In regard to the dress, Queen Victoria wrote in her diary:

I wore a white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design. My jewels were my Turkish diamond necklace & earrings & dear Albert’s beautiful sapphire brooch.

With Queen Victoria’s choice of a white wedding gown, a trend was started (at least among the more wealth) which slowly developed over the remainder of the 19th Century. In regard to this trend, the August 1849 edition (page 440) of Godey’s Lady’s Book stated that:

Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one.

We have now come to that subject which is said to engross the thoughts of a young lady from the time she comes out until she is married. The choice of a wedding dress!

Custom has decided, from the earliest ages, that white is the most fitting hue, whatever may be the material. It is an emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one. Now and then a fashion of light silks or satins comes in vogue, but is not generally adopted. White, then, let it be, if it is the simple muslin of the pretty country girl, who needs no foreign ornament, or the satin and Brussels lace, or the silver brocade of a Parisian countess. This, be it understood, if one is married at home. Of late, it has been quite common to be married in a traveling dress, and have the same tears shed for the ceremony among the bride’s friends, answer for the parting. A bridal tour being considered, by some ladies, quite as indispensable as a wedding ring.

Below are some examples of wedding dresses as depicted in fashion plates. Although the plates coloring depicts the dresses in pure white, in reality, the color chosen was often more of a cream or ivory.

The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine, November 1875.

Magasin Des Demoiselles, 1876

Turning to the dresses themselves, here is one example of a late 1870s wedding dress:

Wedding Dress, c. 1878; Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.83.231.20a-b)

Allowing for age and museum lighting, the color of the dress is of a shade of off-white, especially when compared to the accompanying veil.

Below is an interesting wedding dress dated from 1874 that done in a polonaise style in a silk gauze:

Wedding Dress, English, 1874; Victoria & Albert Museum ( T.68 to E-1962)

The above dress belongs to the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum and according to the Museum website, the bride that originally wore this dress was Lucretia Crouch, who married Benjamin Seebohm at the Friend’s Meeting House in Clevedon, 10 September 1874.  Both the bride and groom were Quakers who, as a rule, favored mainstream styles of clothing at this time.

The dress itself was made of a cream-colored silk gauze with narrow narrow opaque stripes and trimmed with cream silk embroidered net lace. A three-quarters length bodice with flared sleeves and attached draped polonaise overskirt bordered with lace. The bodice fastens with hooks and eyes in the centre front and with a ‘V’ neck. The underskirt is full-length and is constructed from the same silk gauze edged with three flounces of lace with edges of lace attachment to the bodice and skirt of silk satin rouleaux, and an additional row of rouleaux on the sleeve edges. The bodice front and polonaise overskirt are trimmed with silk satin ribbon bows. There is also a belt sash of silk satin lined with cream silk which has a fastener in the center front that is camouflaged with a satin bow. Finally, a large silk gauze and net lace bow supported with a stiff cotton gauze interlining and is attached to the back of the belt.

Now on the flip side, consider this:

Wedding Dress, 1874; Chicago History Museum (1946.31a-d)

This dress is constructed of a green silk taffeta and was worn by  by Mrs. Robert S. Elder, née Harriet Newell Dewey, mother of the donors of the dress, to her wedding in 1874. What is nice about the above example is that the provenance of the dress is firm and as such, it does demonstrate that other colors were used, even while the trend towards white was gaining momentum.

Here is another example of a wedding dress from 1879:

Wedding Dress, 1879; from antiquedress.com

  #gallery-0-11 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-11 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-11 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-11 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

This dress style is in a princess line constructed of silk featuring two contrasting colors, blue and white. If you look closely at the pictures, the white portions appear to be of a silk damask (the detail shows up best on the sleeve). This style is characteristic of the late 1870s with a minimal bustle although it still has a train.

The provenance of this dress is excellent (I double-checked it on Ancestry.com), it was worn by a Hattie Ray (nee Pagin) at her wedding to Hugh G. Ray on June 5, 1879 in Frankville Township , Winneshiek County, Iowa. There is no doubt that this dress was a more practical style of wedding dress that was suitable for wear as a “best dress.”

Here is a dress from 1872 that is interesting in that while it’s a wedding dress, it’s a relatively simple one with somewhat minimal trim. Yes, it’s still pretty busy by today’s standards but by the standards of the 1870s, not so much. 🙂

Wedding Dress, 1872; Metropolitan Museum of Art (35.78.1a, b)

#gallery-0-12 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-12 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-12 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-12 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Detail of rear button.

Close-Up of fringe.

The above dress is relatively restrained compared to regular day dresses of the early 1870s and the train is fairly simple. Probably the greatest extravagance is the fringe running along the mid-front of the dress and flowers.

Below are two more examples, one from 1878 – 1879 and the other from 1880. Both of them are interesting in the use of asymmetrical trim and especially the 1880 dress.

Wedding Dress, c. 1878 – 1879; Metropolitan Museum of Art (1979.339.2)

Close-Up of the hem/guard.

Wedding Dress, 1880; Metropolitan Museum of Art (34.95.1)

Close-Up

While an all-white wedding dress was considered to be the ideal, it’s evident that wedding dresses of other colors were used, either by themselves or combined with white. However, it as a trend, the all-white wedding dress was gaining ground and especially since it was a status symbol. Weddings have traditionally been more than just a ceremony to mark the start of a formal relationship, it was also an occasion for families to display their status and respectability, concepts which were of the utmost importance to Victorians. The wedding ceremony, and the wedding dress by extension, were essential to the family and the bride demonstrating that they were respectable elements of society. Granted, this was the ideal but it was a major driver of social behaviors.

Finally, the development of the wedding dress is a prime example of how fashions have been traditionally transmitted, starting with those of higher social stature (such as Queen Victoria) and then slow spreading downward in society. In the case of America, while it often stated that it was a less structured society with much social mobility, when it came to fashion the same situation applied only with industrialists and businessmen taking the places of aristocrats (ok, that’s a broad oversimplification but it works here).

Wedding Dress, 1875

So, on a more practical level, if one is searching for recreating a wedding dress from the late 19th Century, there are a wide variety of choices that are available and one does not have to settle for some shade of white. Also, in terms of style, one has choices in that a day dress, evening dress, or even ball gown style can be adapted for use.

Wedding Dress, 1871; The rug certainly adds an interesting ambience to the picture.

We hope you have enjoyed this brief overview and stay tuned for further installments taking wedding gowns into the the 1880s and 1890s.

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "lillyabsinthe-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "c03c591726935f4eb9d654f60f9cc0ce"; amzn_assoc_asins = "0486245349,0764306162,B06XZ2XXYD,1717784380,0486814254,096365179X,0486229904,0486402215,0486418146,0486242056";

Wedding Dresses of the 1870s When we think of a wedding dress today, we usually envision a bright eggshell white dress trimmed with lace.

[titoslondon-blog]

New Post has been published on Titos London

#Blog New Post has been published on http://www.titoslondon.co.uk/the-most-glamorous-royal-tiaras-through-the-years/

The most glamorous royal tiaras through the years

The history of royal tiaras is as long and fascinating as the headgear is sparkling. Take the tiaras worn by the late Diana, Princess of Wales, for instance. She married Prince Charles wearing a family heirloom of her own aristocratic lineage, the Spencer tiara, but the Cambridge Lovers’ Knot—with its 19 diamond arches and swinging pearls—was said to be among her favourites. (She famously teamed it with Catherine Walker’s pearl- and sequin-studded Elvis dress for a state dinner in 1989.) Originally commissioned by Queen Mary, the Cambridge Lovers’ Knot was passed down to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, and has most recently been seen on the head of the Duchess of Cambridge. Other British royal family sparklers of note include the Lotus Flower tiara—a favourite of Princess Margaret’s, the Egyptian-style headpiece originally belonged to the Queen Mother—and the Cartier Halo Scroll, which dates back to 1936 and was worn by the Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding day.

Among the oldest tiaras still in use is the Swedish royal family’s Cameo Tiara—a rich gold diadem, with seven delicate cameos framed in opulent seed pearl accents—was gifted to Empress Joséphine by Napoleon in 1809. The empress’s granddaughter, Josephine of Leuchtenberg, inherited it and took it with her into the Swedish royal family when she wed the future King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway. It has since been worn by many of the women in the household of King Carl Gustaf, from Princess Birgitta’s 1961 nuptials to Princess Victoria’s own wedding in 2010.

Not all royal households take the same inheritance approach to their gems though. The Japanese imperial household traditionally provides each family member a tiara of their own, either when they marry into the family, or when they come of age at 20. The most recent addition to the royal parure was Princess Kako of Akishino coming of age gift, an all-white scroll motif and diamond cluster set—including matching earrings, a brooch, bracelet, necklace and, of course, tiara—designed by Mikimoto. Here, Vogue dives into the treasure trove of royal tiaras.

1/36 Queen Mary wearing the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland" Tiara, 1890s

Image: Rex Features

Duchess of York wearing the "Lotus Flower" tiara

Image: Alamy

Duchess of York wearing the “Strathmore Rose” tiara, 1923

Image: Getty

Princess Margaret wearing the “Cartier Halo Scroll” tiara, 1954

Image: Getty

Princess Birgitta wearing the “Cameo” tiara, 1961

Image: Getty

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the “Girls of Great Britain and Ireland” tiara, 1961

Image: Rex Features

Princess Margaret wearing the “Persian Turquoise” tiara, 1966

Image: Getty

Princess Margaret wearing the “Poltimore” tiara, 1969

Image: Getty

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the “Queen Alexandra's Kokoshnik” tiara, 1969

Image: Rex Features

Princess Grace wearing the ruby and diamond parure tiara, 1973

Image: Getty

Queen Silvia wearing the “Braganza” tiara, 1976

Image: Getty

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the “Burmese Ruby” tiara, 1977

Image: Getty

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the “Grand Duchess Vladimir” tiara, 1980

Image: Getty

Princess Diana wearing the “Spencer” tiara, 1983

Image: Getty

Princess Diana wearing the “Queen Mary” tiara, 1983

Image: Getty

Princess Anne wearing the “Princess Andrew’s Meander” tiara, 1988

Image: Getty

Princess Caroline wearing the “Cartier Pearl Drop” tiara, 1996

Image: Getty

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the “George VI Victorian Suite” tiara, 1996

Image: Getty

Crown Princess Victoria wearing the “Four Button” tiara, 1997

Image: Rex Features

Queen Rania wearing the “Halo Diamond Cartier” tiara, 2000

Image: Getty

Sarah Salleh wearing the “Diamond Floral” tiara, 2004

Image: Getty

Princess Madeleine wearing the “Modern Fringe” tiara, 2005

Image: Rex Features

Princess Letizia wearing the “Prussian” tiara, 2009

Image: Getty

Crown Princess Victoria wearing the “Cameo” tiara, 2010

Image: Getty

Duchess of Cambridge wearing the “Cartier Halo Scroll” tiara, 2011

Image: Getty

Princess Mako wearing “Princess Mako’s” tiara, 2011

Image: Getty

Princess Kako wearing “Princess Kako’s” tiara, 2014

Image: Getty

Princess Takamado of Japan, 2015

Image: Rex Features

Queen Letizia wearing the “Pearl Fleur de Lys” tiara, 2015

Image: Getty

Duchess of Cambridge wearing the “Queen Mary” tiara, 2016

Image: Getty

Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide wearing a sapphire and diamond tiara, 2016

Image: Alamy

Princess Madeleine wearing the “Aquamarine Kokoshnik” tiara, 2017

Image: Rex Features

Princess Sofia wearing the “Amethyst” tiara, 2017

Image: Rex Features

Princess Sofia wearing a tiara gifted by parents-in-law, 2017

Image: Rex Features

Queen Letizia wearing the “Spanish Floral” tiara, 2017

Image: Rex Features

Alessandra de Osma wearing the “Hanoverian Floral” tiara, 2018

Image: Getty

The post The most glamorous royal tiaras through the years appeared first on VOGUE India.

[clusterassets]

New world news from Time: Analyzing Every Tiara Meghan Markle Could Wear at the Royal Wedding

Not every bride has a royal wedding.

And not every woman wears a crown on her big day. But while Meghan Markle may be just a commoner like the rest of us right now, royal tradition suggests that she will wear a sparkling diamond tiara for her May 19 marriage to Prince Harry at Windsor Castle. The question, then: which tiara will she choose to top off her wedding look? The royal family has quite a collection of diadems at their disposal, many delicate pieces dating back decades — if not a century or more — and carrying the weight of tradition in their cold, hard, priceless diamond hearts. Yet rarely do tiaras see the light of day: they are only brought out for certain state occasions and weddings, like that of Kate Middleton to then-fiancé Prince William back at the royal wedding in 2011.

Assuming that Markle follows in Middleton’s footsteps, here’s our rundown of Markle’s headwear options, based on what’s available to her in the royal vault.

Spencer Tiara

Anwar Hussein—WireImagePrincess Diana, Princess of Wales, in November 1986 during a visit of Bahrain.

The Spencer Tiara is actually owned by Princess Diana’s family, the Spencers, not the royal family. It was a favorite of the late Princess Di, with its romantic curlicue design of diamond “tulips,” stars and scrolls crafted from a few other pieces of jewelry combined into this tiara form — in fact, Diana wore it on her own wedding day to Prince Charles back in 1981, giving it some extra symbolism. (Her sisters also donned it for their nuptials.) It’s currently in the possession of Diana’s father, the Earl of Spencer, and has not been worn since Princess Diana’s death in 1997, although it has appeared publicly as part of exhibitions and could potentially be loaned out for Markle.

Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara

Anwar Hussein—Getty ImagesDiana, Princess of Wales wears the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara (Queen Mary’s Tiara) and diamond earrings during a banquet on April 29, 1983 in Aukland, New Zealand.

The Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara is one of the most dramatic of the options in the royal arsenal, with its memorable Art Deco curlicues and height. It has an illustrious history: crafted by court jewelers Garrard in the early 1900s for Queen Mary, its design is based on a centuries-old Gothic Revival tiara first owned by Princess Augusta of Hesse. That piece is in a separate private collection, but this replica is now in the possession of the Queen, who has loaned it to both Diana and Kate over the years after wearing it herself earlier in her own reign. It consists of a mix of upright pearl drops and diamond arches, some of the pieces borrowed from other tiaras. The Duchess of Cambridge wore it as recently as 2017 at Buckingham Palace, and it was a favorite of Princess Diana’s for formal occasions. But many believe that Markle may not go this route, because it is so flashy.

Lotus Flower Tiara

DOMINIC LIPINSKI—AFP/Getty ImagesChinese President Xi Jinping (C) sits between Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, (L) and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II during State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in London, on October 20, 2015, on the first official day of Xi’s state visit.

The ornate Lotus Flower Tiara was also designed by Garrard London in the 1920s of pearls and diamonds. It was a reworked wedding gift for the Queen Mother, who had a necklace dismantled and rearranged into this tiara form. She then passed it down to her daughter Princess Margaret, who wore it often and lent it to her daughter-in-law for her own wedding before it returned to the royal family vault, presumably around the time of her death in 2002. More recently, the Duchess of Cambridge has put it on display for occasions of state, including a 2013 ball and a visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015 for a Buckingham Palace banquet. It’s distinguished by the delicate lotus-shaped floral motif that makes up its signature curvy shape, making it a light but regal piece.

Strathmore Rose Tiara

The Strathmore Rose Tiara https://t.co/p4f98DrIPB pic.twitter.com/SO7TDOFIgh

— Ella Kay (@courtjeweller) February 10, 2018

The elaborate Strathmore Rose Tiara dates back to 1923, according to royal jewelry experts. It was originally a gift from the 14th Earl of Strathmore to his daughter Elizabeth upon the occasion of her marriage; she ultimately became Queen Mother, as her husband was crowned King George VI following their marriage. Since then, it has been worn sparingly by the royal family. But it is striking in design, featuring rose “prongs” set with rose-cut diamonds.

The Queen Mother’s Cartier Bandeau

One of my top choices for Meghan's wedding tiara is this sleek, sparkling bandeau from Cartier https://t.co/G8RWIujn7y pic.twitter.com/nv2ItdHMBG

— Ella Kay (@courtjeweller) January 13, 2018

The Queen Mother’s Cartier Bandeau Tiara is actually comprised of a set of bracelets, some of them also fitted with rubies, emeralds, and sapphires; for the tiara, the wearer chooses three pieces, according to Town & Country. The current Queen has been known to wear some of the different bracelet components individually over the years. It would be an unusual choice for Markle, but also a sleeker option than some of the more fanciful tiaras floating around the royal vault.

Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara

Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara Imo it's one of the most beautiful tiaras. #tiara #tiaras #queenmaryfringetiara #queenmary #queenmum #queenmom #queenelizabeth2 #queenelizabeth #queenelizabethii #princessanne #hermajesty #hm #royals #godsavethequeen #british #britishmonarchy #crown #britishroyalfamily #weddingday #weddingdress #weddingstyle #royalwedding #britishwedding #4generations #fourgenerations#kolagemaidbaimi

A post shared by Royals of Europe (@royals.of.europe) on Jun 3, 2017 at 6:45am PDT

If Meghan Markle is looking to make a bold statement, Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara is bound to stand out: it features a stately series of vertical rows of diamonds. Originally owned by Queen Mary according to the Royal Collection website, she lent it to her daughter-in-law Elizabeth for her wedding day. It was crafted from a diamond necklace that Queen Victoria gave to Queen Mary for her wedding back in 1893. It remains contemporary in design: minimalist in structure, maximalist in sparkle.

Out of the running: The Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara

Dan Kitwood—Getty ImagesTheir Royal Highnesses Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge exit following their marriage at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England.

This is the one tiara we know Meghan Markle won’t be wearing on her walk down the St. George’s Chapel aisle. The Cartier Halo Scroll Tiara, referred to as the Halo Tiara, was donned by Kate Middleton for her 2011 nuptials to Prince William at Westminster Abbey. It was a gift from the Queen Mother to Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her 18th birthday. But it will not be within Markle’s reach for her spring wedding, as the Queen has loaned it out to the National Gallery of Australia for a Cartier jewelry exhibition on display from March 30 through July 22.

Of course, it’s also entirely possible that Markle will choose one of the lesser-known sparklers from the extensive royal jewelry vault, transform a different piece as recent Queens have been wont to do, or even show up with a new tiara altogether. We’ll find out on May 19.

May 04, 2018 at 01:03AM ClusterAssets Inc., https://ClusterAssets.wordpress.com

[world-of-wales]

CATHERINE'S STYLE FILES - 2023

13 MAY 2023 || The Princess of Wales featured in a special segment with the Kalush Orchestra for Eurovision 2023 in support of Ukraine.

Catherine opted for -

↬  'Marlowe' Chiffon one-shoulder gown in blue by Jenny Packham

↬  Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother’s Sapphire and Diamond Fringe Earrings