Queen Camillais wearing her first tiara in her new royal role.
The Queen Consort, 75, shimmered in theBelgian Sapphire Tiaraat a state banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, her first tiara moment sinceKing Charles IIIacceded to the throne.
While Camilla opted not to wear the designated earrings, the whole set together is known as the King George VI Victorian Suite. King George gave his daughter, then-Princess Elizabeth, the tiara, necklace and earrings as a wedding gift in 1947. The jewels are believed to date back to the mid-1800s, with the bracelet added to the suite in the 1960s.
Queen Camilla.Chris Jackson/Getty
The Queen Consort has historically had a bolder taste in tiaras thanKate Middleton, who sported her go-toQueen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiarafor the state banquet. While the Princess of Wales has worn theQueen Mary’s Lover’s KnotandLotus Flowerfor previous state occasions, Camilla has chosen the larger Delhi Durbar andGreville Tiarafor diplomatic dinners.
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Intriguecontinues to shroudwhat crown Camilla might wear for her husband’s coronation this spring. Buckingham Palace previously confirmed that the Queen Consortwill be crownedbeside King Charles on May 6, 2023.
Since the gem is completely detachable (as is the velvet cap usually worn for the coronation service), King Charles and Queen Camilla might choose to remove the controversial gem completely. It’s also possible that they will opt for a different crown completely.
A royal source confirmed that President Ramaphosa’s three-day stay was on the calendar beforeQueen Elizabethdied “peacefully” on Sept. 8.
Prince WilliamandKate Middleton, both 40, welcomed the South African leader at London’s Corinthia Hotel earlier on Tuesday. They then traveled to Horse Guards Parade, where the full pageantry of the British state was on display as King Charles III and Queen Camilla made the official welcome.
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The royals then took place in a royal carriage procession through London to Buckingham Palace, where a private lunch was held and President Ramaphosa viewed an exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection related to South Africa.
In the afternoon, President Ramaphosa visited Westminster Abbey to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and take a tour, including viewing the memorial stone for Nelson Mandela, who served as South Africa’s president between 1994 and 1999.
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Ramaphosa also visited the Palace of Westminster, where he delivered an address in the Royal Gallery to members of the houses of Parliament and other guests.
Courtiers gave a glimpse into the preparations for the state banquet on social media Monday. The Royal Family Twitterpostedfootage of the culinary team hard at work, showing a chef recreating South Africa’s national flower, the Protea, into sweet confections to be served at the end of the evening.
For dessert, an iced vanilla parfait with caramelized apples will be served alongside coffee, petit fours and the edible sugar Protea flowers. A selection of French wines will also flow throughout the evening.
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In a sustainable nod to the season, the Royal Family Twitter gave apeekinto the prep for the floral arrangements that grace tables in the ballroom. The foliage comes from the gardens of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, plus crab apples from Kent.
As seen in aquick clip, the King and Queen even popped into the ballroom before the banquet to check out the splendor for themselves.
source: people.com
