State Banquet: HM The Queen and HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned
No tiara at the state banquet for Mozah -- I don't think she ever wears them, though some savvy poster may be able to prove me wrong on that one. Love the scarlet outfit and matching headwrap, though -- very flattering.
We do have a sparkler from Lil out tonight, though -- and a new one to the blog at that! This is the Vladimir Tiara, bought in the 1920s by Queen Mary from Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia (who had to sell off many of her valuables after the Russian Revolution). Queen Mary later gifted it to her granddaughter, the current queen.
It's quite the show-stopper, with its circular motifs and drop pearls (it can also be worn with a set of the Cambridge emeralds in place of the pearls). I have to say, though, it's not my favorite look on HM -- I really think this tiara would better suit the Duchess of Cornwall, to be honest. What do the rest of you think?
(Also really not loving the necklace -- HM's really Queen-Mary-ing it up tonight, isn't she?)
PHOTO CREDITS: Kieran Doherty – WPA Wire/Getty Images
Tags: headscarf, red, state visit, tiara
Oh my goodness! I'm so happy Her Majesty wore this tiara this evening. Okay, okay, okay, so I saw this tiara on display in Buckingham Palace just a few weeks ago (can you tell I am super excited!!!). It is stunning...absolutely stunning! I made sure to get as close to the tiara as I possible could...it is so beautiful. Plus, the history behind it is just so incredible (I have a love of the Romanov Family history). This is one of my most favorite tiaras. HM looks so beautiful wearing it (she always does in my humble opinion), but the necklace is a little overpowering. Very Queen Mary, Ella!
Our dear Queen looks a tad washed out next to the beautiful HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned. She is an interesting lady. I need to research more about her.
The Sheikha looks beyond stunning here! This lovely crimson is such a breath of fresh air and helps make her stand out in the crowd of colorless diamonds, pearls and clothes.
I've been waiting for ages for this tiara to show up on Mad Hattery! It's so gorgeous and now I've run out of words to describe these tiaras today
It's got a cool history too, with the Romanovs and such. The necklace doesn't look right somehow. It's a bit too much.
She looks like a snowball, all white and sparkly, but white doesn't show off diamonds very well. I am not a fan of the necklace; HM has another that used to belong to Queen Alexandra that is similar - too busy. The tiara is stunning and would be gorgeous on someone with dark hair.
Queen Elizabeth always looks so washed out when she wears white for the evening, with her pale complexion and white hair she just looks blah. I wish she would go back to wearing pastel colored evening dresses like she did when she was a younger Queen. Lil looks great in color. She looked smashing in the red hat and coat she wore earlier in the day at the official welcoming ceremony.
My favotite tiara is Queen Alexandra's Diamond Russian Kokoshnik Tiara. The Queen really sparkles when she wears that one.
The pearl necklace Lil is wearing tonight was a gift from Qatar in 1979. A nice way of honoring one's guests!
IS that a smiley face at the end of the gold chain around her neck? (Kidding, folks!)
Mozah is stunning. I love that color on her. Dear Liz is lovely too, but I wish she'd wear something with more color. She looks like pure white cotton candy here.
That tiara is quite lovely, and there's a wonderful close-up of it in Geoffrey Munn's book on tiaras. He has it with a closeup with pearls and with the Cambridge emeralds. I wish dear Liz would have worn it with the emeralds. At least she'd have some color.
This is one of my all-time favorite tiaras. But I agree, it might be a tad wide for HM's head (she's so petite!) I think it would be lovely on Camilla's larger noggin, with her fuller hair. I'd love to see that, actually. Such a gorgeous tiara...
Well if the Queen of England can't bling it up a bit, then frankly - who can?! I love the Vladimir.. isn't there a story of it being smuggled out of revolutionary Russia by some reckless aristo dressed as a woman? Or am i confused. Whatever, it's a fab piece, but one that old Lil hasn't worn for a while - she seems to prefer the (much lighter... so understandably so!) Girls.
And that necklace... well yes it is mahusive, but it is amazing. And she kinda had to seeing as they gave it to her. Honestly, when guests come to stay with me, I make sure the picture frame they gave me is on display - I don't have tyo go digging through vaults to dig out that priceless necklace they gave me!
Echo other comments though - she coudl colour her outfits up a bit more!
The Sheikha must be one of the most glamourous (royal) women in the world. I think she only wears haute couture!
Wow - she really is stunning isn't she? And I'm pleased to see that she's co-ordinated her outfit with her ribbon medal (pet peeve of mine!) Just goes to show when your seven feet tall and radiant you don't need a tiara.
I do wonder why HM is doing this run of white dresses - I suppose it means every visitor gets equal bling-osity. The tiara is goegeous, but my favourite is still the Girls of GB. But I do agree with Leslie - I think this would look fab on Camilla.
She does look a little ghostly next to the vibrant crimson Sheikha, but they both look beautiful. I think you guys are right though - that tiara needs a bit more hair under it.
Kudos on this website! The photos are always great, and the syntax and prose so witty and well-done!
Clearly HM pulled out the Vladimir WITH PEARLS to complement the Qatar pearl necklace. And it is such a lovely piece, that it doesn't matter if it's too white, she's too white, her head is too small or if it would look better on the D of C: it is fabulous and I'm glad to see it!
That is a beautiful tiara, but I agree that it doesn't suit HM very well; it seems to emphasize how petite and frail she is, especially standing side-by-side by the very tall and much-younger Sheikha.
I adore both the color and style on the Sheikha; her outfit is modern and modest.
It must have been murder for the photographer to frame this shot of Little Lilibet and this tall oasis of water!
Hey, the only word I can think of for this tiara is ASSERTIVE. It's like she's saying "you may be younger, taller and richer, but there's only ONE Queen of England!"
The Sheikha completely outshines the Queen here. Poor Lilibet sort of blends in with the wallpaper with all the white and gold. (and yes, I do realize it's not "wallpaper" but not sure what the wording should be). Mozah is beautiful, glowing, just Wow!
HM The Queen looks spiffing with all the pearls and the marvellous tiara. I really like it!
I believe the Shiekha had her head covered for the entire trip (at least in the photos I've seen)...I suppose a tiara does not qualify as a headcovering in Qatar. Two different women, two different styles. It's almost futile to compare. I just think we're lucky to have these two to gaze at. Eye Candy !
Thank God for that. I thought she'd retired this beaut forever. But I wish she'd worn it with the emeralds, just for that bit of colour. She always looks terribly washed out at these do's. I understand that of course she's got a whole pearl thing going on here, but a coloured frock wouldn't go amiss. Her day outfits are always lovely and bright.
This tiara would look great on Cams (with the emeralds, of course!)
And what can I say about Mozah - glorious. Forever fabulous!
It's a pity HM didn't trot out that lovely black and gold number she wore when the Aga Khan visited Buck House a couple of years ago. It would have been perfect here.Too bad it's so associated with mourning as the colour really suits her.
I think this is actually my favourite Tiara of all.....not sure why?
The royal channel at Youtube has a very nice little video of the beginning of the banquet. In the procession, you can just about make out Sophie Wessex in her weddiing tiara (dullsville), and there a few good close-ups of Camilla's Mighty Bouch whilst the Emir of Qatar is speaking. There is of course the usual drivel about the joining of two nations etc, but the major highlight is watching Lil's pearl drops jangle as she speaks. Poetry in motion, almost! And the pearls around her neck are looking spectacular.
What's the rather spectacular order that HM is wearing? she could mount it on the bonnet of her car, it's so huge!
They both looked lovely; but D of C has yet to earn such a lovely piece.
WOW! HM is really blinging it! Nix the necklace; love the tiara.