Prinsjesdag Jewels 2015
September in Europe means that various countries’ parliaments are back in session, and yesterday was the glamorous (and rainy) opening day of the Dutch parliament, known in the Netherlands as “Prinsjesdag.”
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima traveled to and from parliament in the royal family’s grand golden coach. These carriages were meant to differentiate royals from mere mortals in the days when everyone traveled by carriage; in a modern world of cars, trains, and buses, they stand out even more.
Queen Maxima stepped out of the carriage to reveal a gorgeous new Jan Taminiau gown. The detailed floral embroidery on the dress was inspired by the Japanese room at the Huis ten Bosch Palace.
Taminiau also designed Maxima’s striking blue inauguration gown.
Maxima accessorized with gloves and a matching clutch bag.
The dress code for Prinsjesdag calls for ladies to wear long gowns with hats (because it’s a formal event held in the morning) rather than tiaras. Maxima often wears a large hat for the occasion, but yesterday she chose a floral hair ornament that coordinated with her gown.
Maxima wore the star and sash of her highest Dutch order, the Order of the Netherlands Lion.
As for jewelry, she kept things fairly simple (for Maxima, that is), wearing her bejeweled tassel earrings, a pair that she wore earlier this summer in the Philippines.
Maxima may have been the star of the sartorial show, but King Willem-Alexander was the center of the day’s government activities. He made his annual speech before parliament on a grand upholstered throne.
By grand, I mean really grand.
The other royals at Prinsjesdag were Willem-Alexander’s brother and sister-in-law, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien.
Laurentien wore a long, dramatic pair of statement earrings. She also secured the sash of her highest Dutch order, the Order of the House of Orange, with a jeweled brooch.
Her green gown (which looks to me a bit like a Missoni knit) featured incredible long, medieval-style sleeves.
What did you think of this year’s Prinsjesdag gowns and jewels?
State Opening of Parliament Jewels: May 2015
Today, Queen Elizabeth II traveled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster to officially open parliament. She’s been doing this for more than sixty years now, but the event is still as filled with pomp and circumstance (and jewels!) as ever.
On her way to and from the Houses of Parliament, the Queen wore the diamond diadem made in 1820 for the coronation of King George IV. From this angle, you can just see the yellow hue of the diamond in the center of the front cross pattée. You can read more about the history of this centuries-old diadem in yesterday’s post.
Here’s a great look at the side of the diadem, which features the emblems of England, Scotland, and Ireland (the rose, thistle, and shamrock, respectively) set with more than 1,000 diamonds. The intertwined floral elements are alternated with crosses pattée.
And here’s a good look at the back of the tiara and its base, which features rows of pearls.
For her speech in front of the Houses of Lords and Commons, the Queen donned the Imperial State Crown. It traveled in a separate carriage to Westminster.
And it was carried in on a special pillow!
You can read more about the history of the Imperial State Crown and its gems, which include the Black Prince’s Ruby, the Stuart Sapphire, and the Cullinan II Diamond, over here.
The Queen also wore two pieces of jewelry that belonged to Queen Victoria: the Coronation Earrings and Coronation Necklace.
Here’s an especially good look at the glittering earrings. We’ve previously discussed the earrings more here, and the necklace over here.
The Duchess of Cornwall attended the state opening as well, wearing the Boucheron diamond tiara left to the Queen Mother as a part of the Greville inheritance.
She also wore one of her trademark pearl chokers, this time the version with the all-diamond clasp with a cross motif. This photo also provides a nice look at the bar brooch she’s used to secure the sash of the Royal Victorian Order.
Princess Anne also attended, but she wore a uniform rather than a gown and jewels. Have a look at those medals and braids!
Also wearing a boatload of medals and decorations: the Duke of Edinburgh.
And the Prince of Wales was well-decorated as well.
And here’s a fun tiara sighting to round out our post: this is the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, wearing a tiara to the state opening.
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