Visit to Australia - CHOGM Banquet Dinner: HM The Queen

Tiara Alert in Australia, hatters!  HM busted out the massive Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara for the banquet at the Heads of Government meeting.  It's certainly impressive, but this one has never been one of my favorite tiaras.  Just not my cup o' tea...

PHOTO CREDITS: Ron D'Raine - Pool/Getty Images

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This entry was posted by Ella on Friday, October 28th, 2011 at 10:28 AM and is filed under HM The Queen. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

24 Responses to “Visit to Australia - CHOGM Banquet Dinner: HM The Queen”

  1. Patricia says on October 29th, 2011 at 10:55 AM :

    I like to refer to this as the "headlight" tiara because you can certainly mount it on a vehicle or bike and use it as such. Needless to say, both tiara and the necklace are just too huge and overwhelming for HM; the tiara is so large it's actually casting its shadow on Lil's bodice. At first, I thought it was part of the dress design. I would have loved to have seen the Girls tiara with that outfit.

  2. nancy says on October 29th, 2011 at 11:17 AM :

    Anybody recognize that order HM is wearing? I've never seen it before.

  3. samsmom1127 says on October 29th, 2011 at 11:19 AM :

    Ella Kay, do you have any idea what order the Queen is wearing in this picture?

  4. Ella says on October 29th, 2011 at 11:21 AM :

    I believe it's the Order of Australia. Here's more from Wikipedia.

  5. MrFitzroyOBE says on October 29th, 2011 at 12:13 PM :

    This is the one that HM should wear if she ever gets into a BIG HONKIN' TIARA competition with Queen Silvia and Queen Sophia. They would usually win that sweepstakes hands down, but this one would be a contender.

    While it is a bit over scaled on HM, it is nice to see her trot out some of the lesser worn pieces. That order is stunning.
    I bet in person the dress and jewels are a better balance, just doesnt read well in the harsh photo lighting.

  6. sandra says on October 29th, 2011 at 12:23 PM :

    I like it - the necklace especially is modern-looking with its chunky, chain effect. And doesn't the tiara look magnif. in her hair?

    One is standing up in front of one's prime ministers and so forth and one jolly well wants them to take notice of one! Job done.

    The Order of Australia looks terrific too. Fingers crossed the dress has a bit more shape or verve than it seems from the photo. Like the jewel embellishments, though.

  7. Annie says on October 29th, 2011 at 12:49 PM :

    This has always been and will always be just way over the top for me. It screams "look at me" while being dreadfully unattractive. If the decision was ever made to break this piece up, I'd be all for it.

  8. PJ25 says on October 29th, 2011 at 1:04 PM :

    The tiara has never been one of my fav's, sure the aquamarines are drool worthy and impressive, but the execution is all wrong. However, the chunky necklace and earrings could look quite chic if worn correctly on a muchhhhhhh younger lady. Here's hoping Milla or Kate will have their way with this tiara and turn it into something a wee bit more elegant.

  9. Sir Tom says on October 29th, 2011 at 2:38 PM :

    I don't know. I mean, I've always found aquamarines a bit 'meh' anyway, and the execution here is quite poor. The necklace would make a wonderful statement piece on someone younger and with the right frock - the chain-y detail would go well with some McQueen military-esuqe gown, no?
    However, I do think Lil has the right idea. She may as well go Queen Mary on everyone's ass when she's got every Commonwealth leader sat in front of her. I'd would have gone for the Cambridge emeralds myself, however.

  10. nancy says on October 29th, 2011 at 3:38 PM :

    It doesn't quite work, in my view. An ice blue dress or all white might have improved the look, I'm not sure.

  11. looseal says on October 29th, 2011 at 3:44 PM :

    It's the center stone of the tiara that throws me off of it. Perhaps if the stone were on its side as a base for a center fan...that would look better. Nothing can help the necklace; it is gaudy.
    The dress is very pretty. Wish there was a full length photo.

  12. MrFitzroyOBE says on October 29th, 2011 at 4:49 PM :

    Still haven't found a full length photo, but this one shows more of the details of the jewels and the dress. (click "see larger" for best detail)

    The earrings are stunning.
    The necklace looks better from this angle.
    The tiara is truly awkward, and all the moreso from the side.

    The gown appears to have seed pearls re-embroidered over the lace or brocade of the fabric, as well as the sewn on jewels (real Aquamarines, one hopes)....nice in concept, but it just isn't working.....

    http://www.knoxnews.com/photos/2011/oct/28/160798/

  13. Arlene says on October 29th, 2011 at 5:18 PM :

    Now that's some serious bling. The tiara is not my fav, but it certainly says, "I AM the Queen." Love the necklace and earrings, but needs to be worn with something more substantial. Here, lend them to me and I can show you how they work. hee, hee, hee.

  14. Ryegirl56 says on October 29th, 2011 at 7:23 PM :

    There is a full length photo here:

    http://news.yahoo.com/photos/queen-elizabeth-visits-australia-1319025965-slideshow/queen-elizabeth-ii-arrives-banquet-dinner-commonwealth-heads-photo-134747398.html

    HM looks lovely and silvery here.

  15. sage says on October 29th, 2011 at 7:26 PM :

    "I AM the Queen." haha! I love it.

    Here she is head to toe. There's a bracelet, too.

    http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=1706247&width=628&height=471

  16. Snug Harbor says on October 29th, 2011 at 7:42 PM :

    I don't mind the tiara so much as the necklace: it's too over the top.
    Seems to be that HM QE2 almost always wears white (or slightly darker) nowadays for formal occasions. Guess she saves the colors for day wear.

  17. jakegariepy says on October 29th, 2011 at 7:48 PM :

    I hate to be the lone admirer here, but I actually love this tiara and the rest of the "parure". And, with all due respect, how aquamarines of this size can be considered "meh" is pretty well beyond me. I can see the point about the size, but to me, that's a plus. It's delightful to see HM wearing something different. There are a lot of tiaras that don't get out as much as they might... This is one, along with the sapphires and the newer Burmese ruby tiara.

    What I am sorry about is that all her evening gowns are the same now. She used to wear a variety of colors - orange, yellow, green... but now it's always white with that rather dreary beading. And I am not a fan of Angela Kelly and her appliques...

    Overall, I think the Queen has looked really lovely during this tour.

  18. crazycap says on October 29th, 2011 at 8:10 PM :

    I agree with the comment about the all-white state occasion apparel. This parure is tough to wear. True, no one will out do this on most occasions, but it's some heavy duty bling for her. She's got a beautiful sapphire set that would have been a nice choice with that order badge.
    http://knowingtheroyals.wordpress.com/category/england/page/4/
    This is a great site for jewels and royalty.

  19. Ontarian says on October 29th, 2011 at 10:53 PM :

    The Aquamarine Tiara was so much nicer before it was altered. :( There is just too much...stone dead centre. The central tiara stone and the pendant really need to swap places again.

  20. JamesB says on October 30th, 2011 at 3:58 PM :

    I've really never disliked this one as much as others. I will agree the necklace is better executed than the tiara, but with stones that big it's hard to go subtle. I think now that her Maj's hair is so white, the aquamarines look rather lovely on her.

  21. Patricia says on October 30th, 2011 at 7:05 PM :

    I'd actually like the necklace better if it weren't for the dangling pendant. I think this suite would look great on someone of Princess Maxima's stature; she would wear these heavy-duty jewels extremely well.

  22. Mandy says on October 30th, 2011 at 9:05 PM :

    I feel the central massive stone on the tiara just doesn't work for me. If it had been a repetition of the pattern of stones on the other spikes I'd definitely have preferred that.

    Oh crazycap that knowingtheroyals website is a dangerous hole to get sucked in to. Found myself wandering through the different tiaras on the page you've linked to and salivating.

  23. looseal says on November 1st, 2011 at 2:03 PM :

    Thanks for the links to the dress and jewels. And crazycap...I so love looking at the rooms too.

  24. crazycap says on November 1st, 2011 at 9:50 PM :

    Thanks. There are alot of unseen treasures on there.
    Looseal, if you really want to see actual rooms QEII occupies, check this:

    http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=4097.0

    Some great and rarely seen interior pics of her palaces, homes, etc.

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