Today at Hidden Gems, I took a closer look at a dinner given for Queen Elizabeth II at the Louvre in Paris in April 1957. Here at The Court Jeweller, I’m bringing you a roundup of some of my earlier articles dedicated to the British royal family’s sparkling visits to France. Bon appétit!
Fact and Fiction: The Queen Dines at the Louvre Museum, 1957
[Hidden Gems Exclusive]
A popular royal-inspired mystery series opens its latest installment with a glimpse into a real-life royal moment: a banquet given in Queen Elizabeth II’s honor at the Louvre in 1957.
The Queen Mother’s White Wardrobe Pearls
In the spring of 1938, Buckingham Palace was hard at work planning King George VI and Queen Elizabeth’s first state visit. They were due to arrive in France for the visit in June, but the death of the Queen’s mother, the Countess of Strathmore, meant that plans had to be changed. So did the Queen’s state visit wardrobe, which was in the process of being made by Norman Hartnell.
Princess Elizabeth Visits Paris (1948)
A few months after their marriage, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh made an official visit to Paris. It was Elizabeth’s first trip outside the Commonwealth, and the press covered it extensively. Here’s a look at some of the clothes and jewels that she wore on the four-day trip.
The Queen’s Glamorous Tiara at the Opera Garnier
An incredible crowd gathered outside the Opera Garnier in Paris on the evening of April 8, 1957, waiting for the Queen and the Duke to arrive and make a balcony appearance with President René Coty. The Associated Press reported, “Thousands shoved and tussled for vantage points. Many scrambled on top of chairs and tables in nearby sidewalk cafes. Scores were nearly trampled.”
Glittering Royal Jewels on the River Seine
[Hidden Gems Exclusive]
The recent Olympic pageant on the River Seine was one for the ages–and it recalled a trio of royal cruises staged during British visits to France during the twentieth century. Today, we take a closer look at the river journeys undertaken by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II in 1938, 1948, and 1957.
The Queen’s Grand Trianon Tiara
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh made a state visit to France in May 1972. They arrived in Paris on May 15. That evening, they were the guests of honor at a state banquet at the Grand Trianon in Versailles. The Grand Trianon is a separate chateau from the grand Palace of Versailles. It was built during the reign of King Louis XIV as a retreat from court life (where he could also spend time with the Marquise de Montespan). The building had been restored in 1963, and the Queen and the Duke stayed there during the visit as well.
The Queen’s Royal Ruby Tiara in Paris
President François Mitterrand of France and his wife, Danielle, hosted the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for a state visit in June 1992. On the first night of the visit, the royal guests were feted with a state dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Here, the Queen sits between Prime Minister Pierre Bérégovoy and President Mitterrand at the dinner.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Final Foreign State Visit Tiaras
On June 6, 2014, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended a state dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris. The occasion was a special one: the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
Stunning Royal Sapphires for Queen Camilla at the Palace of Versailles
We may not have gotten a royal tiara at during this British state dinner in France, but we did get to see an important set of royal sapphires come out of the vaults yet again!
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