State Visit from South Africa: HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
It's the second day of the South African state visit, and that means the traditional Guildhall banquet ... and that means a Tiara Alert!
Birgitte here is wearing one of the tiaras she sports most frequently: the Russian Palmette Tiara. Both times we've seen her wearing it during our Mad Hattery coverage, though, she's used the pink kunzite center stone -- and today, she's demonstrating how you can switch out that center piece.
I quite like the emerald here, maybe more than I like the kunzite stone. I like the extra diamond setting around the emerald. What about the rest of you?
Tags: state visit, tiara
I love the emeralds. Maybe because it's near St. Pat's Day? But I think the diamonds, or maybe the lighting, make her hair look pretty grey. Not a look most women prefer.
I love the emeralds. I have an irrational love of the Glouceter's though.
I'm loving the emeralds! Definately better than the kunzite. Everytime I see a picture of her, she's wearing it... I would love to see the turquoises more frequently!
I like this tiara (the emeralds are fantastic), but I do wish Birgitte would do something with her hair.
Kiri Anne I don't think the diamonds or lighting are making her hair look grey I think the Duchess has stopped dying her hair blonde maybe a year or two ago...I actually think older women look silly with dyed hair and that the Duchess still looks amazing in her 60's! The tiara is amazing i think the kunzite actually looks more attractive than the emeralds but isn't nice she can alternate?
Yes - so much better with the emeralds. And love that necklace too, it's lovely, and not one I can recall seeing before.
For a minor royal, Birgitte really did get the best rocks... but yes, you're right Michael, the turquoises or Pss marie Louise's honeysuckle tiara would do well to make an appearance now and then.
James B, Birgitte does have the best rocks. The necklace was worn by Princess Alice with a diamond tiara that can also be converted to diamond/emerald, too. This tiara was given to Birgitte as a wedding gift from Alice. I hope the Gloucesters haven't disposed of this because I'd like to see her wear something other than the Russian Palmette and Cartier tiaras (although they are nice). I know I have seen a better quality pic of this somehwere but the only place I could find it was here: http://www.royal-magazin.de/england/hochzeits-geschenk.htm
She might as well get some use out of them before the next generation gets them and they are either sold off at Sotheby's or sit in their rotting leather cases, never seeing the light of day again.
Yes - she's got the Iveagh one that Lady Rose wore on her wedding day too hasn't she. So that's 6 at the last count... Time to go for a look in the cupboards I think.
The Duchess of Gloucester has a vast collection of jewels and tiaras - being one of my favourite royals this is great and at the Guildhall banquet she looked super in the emeralds. The necklace is so delicate and lovely it is such a shame though that the next generation of Gloucesters are never going to need the jewellery and death duties will be high so most likely this collection will be sold
I wonder if there's a way that these jewels can be returned to the Crown so that they remain in the collection. It would be such a shame to lose these gorgeous pieces of jewellery for the sake of death duties.
I suppose the only way would be for HM to buy them outright.
Couldn't the Gloucesters will them to HM (or whoever is the monarch at the time) and avoid having to pay the death duties that way? I think that's what happened with the estate of the Queen Mum.
I suspect the Gloucester brood would be miffed to lose their inheritance... The theory is that the reason HM has been so stingy with the jewels is so that they don't get lost... So whereas Queen Mary was generous in 2 generations they get lost. The answer would be a foundation like the Dutch have where they are effectively loaned out. Keeps the pool large and means they don't get lost.
Well, I think that would be the best answer all round. And seriously, the Gloucester kids aren't going to need these jewels in the future, bar a wedding perhaps.
What I'd like to know is what happened to the Princess of Wales' jewels! Did they go to her sons? Were they auctioned off? Does the Queen keep them vaulted away? Will we one day see Kate Middleton wearing the Lover's Knot tiara?
I would think that late Princess of Wales' jewels are being held for the Princes to give to their lucky wives, except for the Spencer tiara which belongs to her Earl & Countess. The Lover's Knot tiara was a wedding gift from the Queen so was Diana's own property - I would guess it'll go to Kate eventually, lucky girl!
Brigette looks fabulous in her emeralds. Presumably they will go to the eldest of her family. I suppose since his wife will be Duchess in her own right a tiara or two won't be entirely out of place!
Actually, I think Diana gave the Lover's Knot back to HM after the divorce. I would think that William's future wife -- my bet's still on the lovely Kate there -- will probably be the first one to wear it again. Camilla won't wear a tiara so closely associated with Diana.
The Spencer tiara definitely went back to Earl Spencer -- in fact, I think he asked for it back long before Diana died. I can't recall seeing her in any tiaras but those two -- any of you more versed in Diana's jewel legacy know of any others?
That's it tiara-wise but of course she did convert the emeralds and the Saudi sapphires to headlands..
Or headbands perhaps!
I like the emeralds, though the kunzite is gorgeous, too.
Magnifique !