Pre-Wedding Theatre Gala: HRH The Duchess of Calabria
Here's a brand-new royal for the blog -- and a brand-new country of royals, too! The tiara-topped lady here is the former Miss Camilla Crociani, who, in 1998, married Prince Charles, Duke of Castro (who used the title "Duke of Calabria" until his father's death in 2008).
Charles is one of the two men who claim the headship of the house of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a family of Italian nobles who once ruled over the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily. (The other claimant is Infante Carlos, who confusingly also uses the title of Duke of Calabria.) The issue of who the rightful head of the royal house is an extensive, tangled web -- and I'll be the first to admit that a) I don't know enough about it to explain it and b) I have no idea which heir is the real heir. But, since they don't actually rule any territories these days, it's luckily not a super-pressing matter. (These disputes can go on for years.)
But, anyway, back to Camilla and her tiara. I think this event was one of the first times Camilla ever wore a tiara, and she chose a popular type for her initial outing: a diamond floral design. I don't know if this tiara is an heirloom (probably not) or a new purchase (more probable), but either way, I like it! Let's call it the Bourbon-Two Sicilies Floral Tiara, shall we?
I do think this lady is one of the most extra-ordinary looking euro-royals. She is very glam, in the manner of a Princess Barbie. I must admit I was suprised when doing a search for 'Charles & Camilla' and she popped up!
I love the match of hair and tiara here - she's wearing the rocks with great confidence, they certainly don't overwhelm her.
She's fab... very Eurotrash. Why do I have the feeling she is about 87 but has had a LOT of work done?
Lol JamesB!
She is very glam, and I love this delicate little tiara. I think floral tiaras are my favourite.
Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Bourbon-Parma; both of them are rather complicated messes even though the headship for Bourbon-Parma is clear at least. But that happens when you intermarry within your own family too often, everyone's their own cousin. afaik both have a pretty good claim to the headship, but I might report further on this once I've worked my way down the Italian/Belgian/Luxembourgian family tree.
Anyway, I don't think the tiara is an heirloom, unless someone from the imperial branch of the Bourbon-family passed that one on.
definitely princess barbie!: very plastic, and a childish idea of what a princess looks like. i don't remember for sure, but i think i read that her family is super-wealthy, and basically bought her a prince. i suspect they bought her a tiara, as well!
all the pics i've seen of her have the same strange artifical look seen here: pastel colors, very blond hair, overly tight face and plumped lips.
May be we should call it the 'Botox tiara'?