Here are some photos of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at the big royal premiere of The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel last night in London. I saw the first film and I enjoyed it immensely, and I think the trailer for the sequel looks lovely and sweet. Any film that has Bill Nighy, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith is a winner for me.
Camilla went all out for the premiere, wearing a purple/plum/burgundy (depending on the light) velvet gown by Anna Valentine. Valentine is one of Camilla’s favorite designers, and Camilla often wears custom-made Anna Valentine pieces/ensembles. Camilla accessorized the gown with an organza shawl and a clutch. And what looks like $1 million worth of diamonds and rubies. Considering Duchess Kate’s jewelry p0rn is so lacking – and even when Kate does wear a nice piece of jewelry, it’s usually buried under a mountain of hair – I’m actually enjoying all of this bling on Camilla. It’s said that Charles regularly gifts Camilla with really nice, expensive jewelry, and he’s also given her many pieces that once belonged to his grandmother, the Queen Mum.
The Daily Mail theorized that this ruby and diamond necklace could be the jewelry given to Camilla by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. If it’s the same piece, it’s worth £1million (probably more). The Mail also says that Camilla’s favorite gemstone is ruby. Lovely. My favorite is sapphire, in case anyone wanted to give me a $1 million sapphire necklace. *cough*
So, overall, is this a good look for Camilla? While the velvet feels more like a holiday choice (this would be perfect for a Christmas occasion), I kind of like that Camilla gets all decked out like this for a royal premiere.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
I thought all the ladies at the premiere looked great. So looking forward to seeing this movie.
PS. I’m an emerald girl – send them with diamonds if you must. I can handle the extra bling.
I am an emerald girl, too. My engagement ring is an emerald and diamond ring and I love it. Even though it has gotten quite scratched up in the last couple of years. 🙁
You can have it repolished. I just found out that they can repolish stones while they are still in the ring.
You would have to be soo very careful about how you go about it and who you see. It also would likely depend on how deep the scratches are. You will lose some stone weight.
You do have to be super careful when you choose a non-diamond engagement ring; some stones just aren’t built to handle the day-to-day. I would recommend that if someone really wants a softer stone (like an emerald or aquamarine or even a sapphire/ruby-though those are a little hardier) is to get a plain wedding band to wear when you are doing ANYTHING that is rough on your hands and only bring the stone out for gentle wear. Never ever sleep in it, don’t swim with it on and don’t clean with it on. And please please don’t do an opal or a pearl-you will kill it dead in the first decade.
I’m an amethyst girl – and Camilla sure has some gorgeous amethysts! Especially that heart pendant with a stone of the finest quality, i.e. a very deep purple colour.
I don’t really care for rubies. This necklace has a lot of carat power but the design is sadly rather uninspired IMO. However, that is often the case with the jewels that the Saudis gift to other royals. Lots of sparkle but poor design.
Camilla looks good in velvet and in burgundy though this outfit is a little too casual, not casually regal like the purple velvet dress we saw recently.
Saudi princes, feel free to send me #allthesapphires. In the deepest blue you can find, please.
Loving the excessive jewels here. I hope the Oscars have as much jewelry p0rn.
I especially love the jewellery p0rn at the Cannes Film Festival. Chopard designs a Red Carpet collection for the festival each year and the generally make some very interesting pieces. My favorite is a floral necklace that Cate Blanchett for a few years ago. She often wears Chopard at awards ceremonies.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/522487994242671490/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/472807660852743114/
I’m a ruby girl. Hand that over, Camilla.
Emeralds are my favorite – sapphires a close second.
@Kellybean – I sooo wanted an emerald engagement ring but was talked out of it for the very reason you mention. (Softness of the stone). Still, I would love to have one!
If Charles is buying, I’ll take this emerald brooch, please –
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/208924870183898968/
@ArtHistorian – some amethysts to drool over….
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/168744317263661867/
And I agree with you re: the uninspired and generally mediocre design of the necklace – the rubies merit a better setting.
I just love that wonderful carved emerald! Cartier did some of they best designs during the Art Deco period in the 1920s and 30s. I was lucky enough to see an exhibition of Cartier art deco jewels in London in 1997.
Cartier have upped its design game in the last couple of years though, especially with the “Caresse d’orchides” of the “Odyssee de Cartier” collections.
I just went to the Cartier exhibit at the Denver Art Museum and for some reason I was not enthralled with the carved ruby/emerald/sapphire necklaces. I think they called them “tuity fruity”? I love facets, I guess!
First of all, utterly envious of both of you getting to view the Cartier exhibits!
@ArtHistorian – I agree re: Cartier’s Art Deco stage.
@Vava- I think I know what you mean re: the carved stones.
I think they are gorgeous – (especially this one:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/97882991876226667/)
but I do think if it’s about maximizing the brilliance of the stones, facets are it.
With older pieces I do love the carving though. Fun fact: The Queen has a brooch from the “tutti frutti” line: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/357965870357472269/.
Camilla is wearing a gorgeous ruby bracelet too. I think she is wearing a wiglet in the back.
Bah! Wiglet Watch Assemble! *Blows Wiglet Whistle*
It might be just puffed up from styling. I don’t really see any new textures or colors.
Her hair is already short to begin with so it’s easier to fluff up and have it stay there.
Ahem, Florc! I’m not sure that’s a wiglet, although I can see why PhD Gossip thinks so. I think it’s teased hair.
I can see why that would be thought too.
Final ruling though. No Wiglet.
Where’s Camilla?? I can’t see her behind all that bling! My god I’m drooling
Me too, lol. So much bling, I need to find my sunglasses. I love it!
(PS Sapphires are my fave but rubies and opals run a close second – third.)
Here’s a better shot of the necklace if anyone is interested: http://www.thecourtjeweller.com/
I guess her official gifts list from 2013 did include a parure of jewels from King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, so the supposition is that is where these come from.
+1,000 She definitely knows how to showcase the bling.
That she does.
Another who is really good at showcasing the bling is QMII of Denmark.
I’ll add Maxima the Magpie to that list.
How could I forget Maxima! She’s the biggest royal magpie there is – and I love her for it. I have a secret hope that she’ll take apart that monstrous Stuart Tiara and put those big sparklers into some gorgeous design because stones of that size don’t really work well in tiara design. Mainly because the tiara is the most architectural form of jewellery, which demands a unified approach whereas when big stones are used they form the basis of the design. Thats very tiaras with very big stones generally look so ungainly.
The Dutch Stuart Tiara:
http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.dk/2012/04/tiara-thursday-stuart-tiara.html
Oh my. That is, hmmm, impressive? I can see her taking the two largest round diamonds and turning them into earrings for everyday wear.
My favorite is when she takes one of the diamond aigrettes and pins it wherever it will fit. Hair, shoulder, hip – whatever part of her that needs a little sparkle.
I am curious to see what she can do with it the way it is. She wears pieces really really well. I’m thinking of her appearance in the Dutch Sapphire Tiara. It seemed like an oddly constructed piece-the sapphires in a weird location and then she puts it on and it looks amazing-like a brand new tiara. I think she could do that to the Stuart and I really really hope she gives me the opportunity to see that.
Oh My. That is a tiara with huge stones. I don’t like it. the big stones are too overwhelming. they would suit a brooch or a ring, but they overwhelm that tiara especially because the design is intricate which only works with small stones.
the only tiaras with large stones i’ve liked are the Swedish Aquamarine Bandeau and Sophie’s Aquamarine tiara which converts very nicely into an awesome necklace.
http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/tiara-thursday-madeleines-tiaras.html
http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/tiara-thursday-sophies-wedding-tiara.html
Don’t forget a, sadly, lost Romanov Tiara with huge sapphires. A masterpiece that mostly like has been dismantled.
http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.dk/2015/02/tiara-thursday-russian-sapphire-wave.html
I quite like Sophie’s convertible Aquamarine tiara with its art deco-style design. However, I’m not fond of Madeleine’s Aquamarine Tiara, also known affectionately as “the Cyclops”.
The Cartier art deco Sunburst Tiara is a rare example of a tiara where a single large stone is integrated completely into a rather innovative design.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/102316222758252223/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/518476975824988505/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/493496071642311363/
That jewelry is over the top, especially when you see there’s matching earrings and a bracelet.
i would ditch the shawl, but otherwise i’m actually totally feeling this look.
Agreed.
Yep, my thought too, she looks great otherwise, the shawl makes no sense oh well haha
All I can see is that the shawl and the handbag clash with the rubies… People, seriously, when you know you are going to be wearing that many rubies, why would you ever pick cheap pink accessories!? Kate did a similar cringey combination of emeralds and a blue dress, but that’s to be expected.
Yep, same sentiment. Like that someone got some serious jewerly out from some dark safe. 🙂
Camilla is frump-fabulous. She is a bit frumpy but always tries to look her best, wearing beautifully put-together outfits. And I love that she isn’t afraid to rock the bling. Even though I don’t particularly like Camilla (I’m still a Diana-loony), I appreciate her style. Duchess Kate could really learn a thing or two about jewelry from the Queen and Camilla.
+1000 – every word!
Completely. I appreciate her effort, but the woman makes every silk purse a sow’s ear! The jewelry is TO DIE, though!
Yes, Yes, Yes!!!
I actually think she looks really good. Agree with what others say about ditching the shawl, although even that gives it a little extra pop of color which is nice. And loving the bling!
With that big a statement necklace, think another fabric would have been better. She looks like a jewelry box on legs. Color is good on her.
The plum is a nice color choice for her, but she is, in my opinion, hopelessly frumpy. I guess she’s doing the best she can. That clutch, though. Ugh. She just has no style or posture or presence.
Prince Charles is certainly pink. What’s that about?
Red wine. And blood pressure. My guess. Probably couperose.
Your posture would be awful too at that age and spending years and years dripping in jewels.
I envy her jewelry and what she has access to.
It’s all gorgeous.
No wonder I have good posture. Lol
Charles purportedly suffers from Rosacea, but who knows that might be ‘palace speak’ for too much liquid refreshment.
I thought someone said recently that Charles, like Andrew and Beatrice, does not drink alcohol. It could also be related to the amount of time he spends out of doors working in the gardens at Highgrove and hill walking. Sun, wind, and exposure to the elements damages skin even if you try to protect it.
Great our amazing royals wearing jewellery given by Arab dictators and I thought I couldn’t be more proud of them! !
Visiting these countries and accepting jewellery as a diplomatic gesture is one thing but to wear it in UK when you have a million other grant jewels to choose from is very different. All of them are dispicable .
I really enjoy Charles’s bejewelled woman fetish.
I would like to find a man with that fetish.
Me too 🙂
It would take. A LOT of bling for me to overlook his tampon fetish. 👀
Punky
We all have our kinks. It was a private moment exposed and never leaves from behind closed doors.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6uuyOWCUpc
American Dad You Got A Kink Song.
So are these jewels also the Queens or is Kate the only person privy to that? Or is her collection a free for all the female royals? I would be quite unhappy if I was Beatrice and not allowed to wear any and a ‘commoner’ was given access.
The queen has her private stash as do all the ladies, bought or gifted by relatives and friends. When she passes, she can bequeath her private stash to her family and friends and maybe to the crown as some previous monarchs did.
Then there is the royal jewellery collection that was bequeathed to the crown which makes it semi-state jewellery, but only the monarch is in charge of it. This is the jewellery that is occasionally loaned to Kate and other members of the family for public engagements.
Kate does have some nice private pieces eg her wedding earrings, the bracelet given to her by Charles and a ruby suit of necklace/bracelet/earrings – also a wedding gift.
She tends to wear Charles’s gift often, hasn’t publicly re-worn her wedding earrings or the ruby suit.
However, she does purchase small modern pieces that are not necessarily precious stones although for the prices she pays, she could purchase precious stones and still have some change. That seems to be her personal style.
On the subject of HM’s bequests, i’ve taken to wondering whether she’ll bequeath more jewels to B + E as they are the kids of her favourite child. QM left a huge stash to Charles for similar reasons. Fergie is the only bride for whom HM outright bought a wedding tiara (purchased after the fact) as opposed to loaning her something from the private stash like all the other brides who needed one.
Why did she do that to Fergie? And what happens to the private stash when she is gone…lastly does Kate keep her engagement ring forever, what happened to all of Diana’s jewelry.
These are Camilla’s own jewels, but she does wear pieces borrowed from the queen. She just needs them less, because Charles inherited many pieces from his grandmother, they are given gifts from foreign heads of state, and also Charles likes to buy new items with proceeds from his Duchy.
It’s actually Sophie, Edward’s wife, who seems to be getting the most access to the Queen’s jewels lately. The Wessexes get tasked with a lot of foreign weddings, etc., and also people think that the Queen is signaling her favor for Sophie by giving her preferential access to jewels.
My guess is that the York girls could borrow from the Queen if they undertook more jewelry-wearing events. Do they attend the annual diplomatic corp event, the one that never gets photographed? They could be wearing family jewels then.
The Yorkies haven’t attended that diplomatic event or any state banquets/white tie events, so for now we don’t know what bling they have.
Loopy: don’t know why she bought Fergie her tiara. I speculate it was a sign of her affection for Andrew extended to Fergie who she really liked as well.
Diana’s loaned jewels were returned to HM at her divorce, and her personal jewels were inherited by William and Harry to be shared equally. Don’t know what will happen to the ring of doom in the event of a divorce, but I presume Kate will keep it since it was private property given to her and not something owned by the royal family or state.
HM’s private stash will be bequeathed as she decides although I think (have to check) she’s made it known that she is to be buried with her wedding/Engagement rings.
Ps: the diamonds of her engagement rings came from a tiara owned by Philip’s mother.
Ditto one of Anne’s tiaras – the one Zara wore at her wedding.
Also forgot to mention the crown state jewels collection. These are housed at the tower of London and only come out at annual opening of parliament and at coronations. Only the Monarch can wear those. If a queen consort is also crowned, this collection includes items for that.
Regarding Engagement rings LAK.
It could go a few ways. She could keep it as a gift. It could also be written up in a contract to go somewhere. And it can be viewed as part of a contract. If the contract is broken (divorce) she gives it up.
Rings always puzzled me.
Florc: I was taught that engagement rings belong to the wife even in the event of a divorce. You return the engagement ring if you never make it to the wedding.
I was taught very old school etiquette so this may not apply anymore, but this is my reasoning for Kate’s ring of doom.
Further, as far as the royal family is concerned, the ring was Diana’s property which was subsequently inherited by her sons. Since William chose to give it to Kate, it belongs to her now.
All of that said, as it’s a very famous ring, and of huge sentimental value to William, they may have drawn up a contract where it returns to William in the event of a divorce.
Failing that, it may return to the royal family via their children to whom Kate could bequeath it.
LAK
I was raised to think that too. Unless the marriage failed because of deliberate actions from the wife like cheating.
Still, a friend of mine got divorce and it was messy. She wanted to keep her huge David Yurman ring and he did cheat only to marry that 22 year old after the divorce was final.
It was argued the ring was a contract, and she had to give it back because the contract/marriage was over.
Circumstances and people i guess.
yes she is frumpy, but that is the way she is and Camilla is an old lady so i give her that.
And she always dresses right for an event.
I agree Elly, she remains herself, and she always makes an effort to please the eye and honour the occasion on that basis.
She’d old-style like her husband, and for myself I find it a jolly good thing to see one older woman who isn’t battling her years and the signs of ageing, but enjoying each moment regardless. There’s life after wrinkles!
🙂
Yeah, she is fine. I like the way she dresses, as though she is comfortable with herself and her age.
Only an old woman could get away with so many diamonds. On a young woman, it’s just too damn much. So, I think Kate is right in that way.
Tell that to Elizabeth Taylor 😀
I saw ET’s jewels in the exhibition ahead of their auction……..i’m still drooling. I want the Krupp Diamond. Stat.
@LAK
I once had a dream that I was Elizabeth Taylor’s granddaughter (or just someone allowed to go into her house and she didn’t call the cops)…..and I spent the whole afternoon trying on her jewelry. OMFG. I ordered her book from the library–where she only show cased a good 1/3rd of her jewelry…..I was drooling. I do think my favorite piece of hers is this: http://image-cdn.zap2it.com/images/elizabeth-taylor-jewelry-collection.jpg The (Anne Boleyn?) pearl necklace. I would sleep in it. I would wear fashionable muumuus with it on…..*sigh*….I need to marry Prince Harry quick!
VC: that’s La Peregrina. The pearl at the end of the necklace. It was the most perfect, lustrous pearl I had ever laid my eyes on. Ditto it’s size. You’d think big would be vulgar, but it was perfection.
A small correction: It belonged to Mary I AKA Bloody Mary, given to her by her husband, the future Philip II of Spain on the occasion of their marriage.
You can see it in various portraits, but I like the Cartier necklace that ET commissioned to display it over the ye old times way it’s displayed through the centuries.
It has a happy/sad origin. It was found by a slave in the gulf of Panama who gave it to the Spanish Governor and as a result won his freedom. The Governor passed it to the future Philip II of Spain.
I lust after ET’s Bulgari Sautoir with a huge sugarloaf sapphire. It was recently reacquired by Bulgari for something like 5 million $.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/463589355365970003/
La Peregrina is the largest drop pearl ever found and it has a long history associated with the House of Habsburg.
I saw an interview with a former aution house employed who negotiated several sales of precious gems with Burton and Taylor, including La Peregrina. He delivered the pearl in person to the couple at a hotel in Vegas, quite late at night. That was in their days of lots of booze and parties. He tells that during the night Liz couldn’t find the pearl, that she had hung around her neck on a thin chain. After checking her cleavage, all the guests searched the floor and the pearl was eventually found in the mouth of one of their little yappy dogs that used it as a chew toy. The pearl had to be sent to New York to be repolished (or “skinned” as it is called). She then had a necklace designed with the pearl as the centre piece.
Burton really bought a lot of significant gemstones for Liz. La Peregrina and the Krupp Diamond have already been mentioned. He also bought a large diamond drop, which was later named the Taylor-Burton diamond and he also bought the so-called Taj Mahal Diamond, which is a heart shaped diamond carved with the name of the wife of one of the Mughal Shah’s of India. I believe it is around the same age as La Peregrina, circa 400 years old.
ArtHistorian: I like the Taj Mahal diamond. I like it’s setting too. If not for the whacking big diamond, it’s one I could wear so casually.
I’m not one for sapphires, but I do love emeralds.
Her Bulgari Emerald suite was quite stunning though I’d imagine too much when worn together.
I think i’d fashion the necklace into a tiara like the Queen Josephine’s Amethyst tiara of the Swedish Royal family and wear it like Princess Madeliene wears it.
That’s such a funny story about La Peregrina.
My other favourite story involving ET’s jewels involve Princess Margaret who declared the Krupp Diamond vulgar at a luncheon they both attended, but then asked to try it on.
Once it was on PM’s finger, ET quipped,’it’s not so vulgar now!’
One of my favorites from the ET collection was the necklace of ivory opera tokens (Wiliam, keep away). Really not an attractive piece but the history contained in it was interesting.
ArtHist, LAK
I love it when you two get talking about great gems.
That huge pearl though, Jeez I’d be loth to wear it; I truly think I’d fear some sort of ghastly haunting from Blœdy Mary.
LAK
Thehehehe… I love that story about Liz, Margaret and the Krupp!
Regarding the Taj Mahal… Daahling, one only ever wears diamonds casually! 😉
I do love emeralds but for some reason I’m not terribly keen on Liz’s Bulgari Emerald Parure. It is almost too overpowering with so many very big stones – especially the necklace. However, my aesthetics is quite different. I would much rather prefer a necklace with one or two big stones incorporated into a stunning design.
That’s the thing when you work with big stones – they are the centre of the design and when you use many big stones in a necklace that leaves less space for unique design features, mainly due to the weight. That’s why the Bulgari sapphire sautoir is so magnificent – one huge sapphire for the centre piece gives much more freedom for design for the rest of the piece.
Liz’s emerald parure:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/88664686386254032/
(Bulgari recently reaquired the Emerald Parure as well for their collection – I’m kind of envious the curator of that collection)
She also had an emerald spray brooch from Bulgari that I like very much:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/332562753706261336/
Liz wearing this brooch as a tiara, which is all kinds of awsome:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/87327680249066423/
WardLittell,
And I love talking about jewels! 🙂
WardLittell, What Arthistorian said. 🙂
I tend to like antique jewellery over modern jewels. the history, the designs, the artistry…….
it’s a lost art.
I’m into contemporary jewellery design in a big way, especially high jewellery (meaning lots of precious stones and astronomical pricetags). And I don’t agree with LAK that it is a lost art, rather the opposite. Jewellers such as Wallace Chan and Sevan Bicakci have developed new techniques for carving crystals and using new materials, fx titanium that can support large gemstones and pearls in delicate designs in a way that was impossible earlier.
Ring by Sevan Bicakci:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/490610953129598492/
Jewellers like Stephen Webster, Shaun Leane, Lydia Courteille, Wallace Chang, Wendy Yue and Michele della Valle (to name a few) are doing some interesting things in a genre of jewellery design that really stagnated design-wise in the latter part of the 20th century (roughly 1960s-1900s). Even the big, old jewellery houses like Chaumet, Boucheron and Cartier are putting out exciting new collections.
That necklace! Foaming at the mouth. Gimme! And a fancy place to wear it!
I think she looks great, and I really like the hair.
The jewels are stunning and I like her hair. And then she puts on this goD-awful, dowdy dress and plain shoes. Ruins the effect somewhat. She needs to dress more snappy, modern. She could do better.
She is one of the rare women who tends to look better as they age – not a beauty in her youth but looks distinguished and good here, without trying too hard. I actually like everything, the dress, the shawl, and sure, the bling. The bracelet is stunning, even better than the necklace IMO.
I agree! I think she looks regal and amazing. The cut on the velvet dress is lovely at the bottom and the colors are incredible together. Lady Di could not have done a better job.
Her dress is too long and there should have been a belt or something to separate the top half from the bottom half. Terrible posture but she a senior citizen so its Okay I guess. Though one thing is true, her hair is always perfection.
Go Camilla! I think she looks really fabulous. She’s a very trad, county type, as is Himself, so this is spot on for her I think, and truthfully, it does give us a lift when the royals go max bling; well, me anyway!
I agree with the comment that this type of major jewellery can look its most astounding on a more mature woman; they both gain from the juxtaposition.
I enjoy these two so much, it’s ridiculous.
I love that clutch and the wrap.
I love rubies. I love diamonds. I love big pieces. But I don’t like the design of this necklace.
That said, Camilla looks great. The velvet season may be drawing to a close soon, so she was smart to wear this dress now before it’s packed away until next fall. I’d probably have ditched the shawl.
She looks really good. Not just the outfit, face/hair/makeup, too. Is it just me, or has she had some very subtle work done on her face and her teeth? Her features are not as harsh as they used to be.
Before she stepped into the spotlight circe 1996, she rarely wore make up and generally didn’t give a crap about her appearance.
Since then, she’s been grooming regularly. Every so often an article pops up from one of her grooming therapists informing us (and clearly also shilling her own services) what they do for Camilla.
The latest one to pop up claimed to give her regular Bee Venom facials which work as a form of temporary botox and lines smoother. If that is true (the effect of the facial), then that’s probably what you see here.
Very interesting LAK, as I also thought she looks more glowing here.
Mind you, it’s utterly astounding what you can do to get the glow going, just by spending time on skincare, and Camilla didn’t take much notice of that kind of stuff before, as you say. This is one little bonus age does give our complexions: you can work a miracle literally overnight, with nothing more demanding than oil and a little massage, so you get a great boost seeing the results so fast.
I guess has her makeup done for her, for such soirées, and stays with her old routine for the Grand National!
That’s the first thing I noticed. Not the jewelry, the face work!
Camilla always looks fabulous.
She sure does!
I think she looks fabulously frumpy, or frumpily fabulous, whichever you prefer.
Personal taste on the necklace would have been to shorten it a bit.
The rottweiler is styling. Looking good. Fabulously frumpy, for sure.
I wonder if they could firm up the back 8 inches of the necklace on some kind of frame. It would pull the sides of the necklace out 1 inch on each side and allow the design to display better.
I think thst she has always dressed to compliment her body type. i like the colour of her dress and the necklace…I’m speechless.
I personally prefer pearls (in appropriate size for clutching) but rubies are welcome too!
She looks good but could be better. I would like her to wear colours like the shawl’s colour or mirror Helen Mirren’s style.
Mirren’s difference from Camilla is summed up in the new L’Oréal ad, in which she dons a biker jacket and ogles a young guy. She’s all about her (genuine) youthfulness, irrespective of age or wrinkles. Camilla would look barking if she tried that, it’s so out of character.
Personally, being oldish myself, I appreciate a scene in which older women express exactly their own tastes, and Camilla, Helen M, Judi Dench, Germaine Greer, and Joan Collins, (being handy examples), provide a broad range of presentation!
I think it’s her blowout, haircut and posture that give rise to the frump. And the pink accessories.
And that her bras should be working more for her. No reason for the girls to be way down there m
True, let’s pretend it’s because it would be harder to display that many rubies with a proper bra.
Not to toot my own horn, but I swear if I had that much money and privilege I would do everything better…so would most people I suppose.
And what does the British Royal Family have to do for getting all these expensive gifts? Don’t tell me there isn’t some kind of payback expected …
Maybe Camilla can gift back Saudi Arabia with a plum colored whip to use on bloggers?
Just went blind. Ms.P, the Beagle looked way better, don’t like Rottweiler of human kind.
I don’t know why, but I like this lady.
Love the dress, but not a huge fan of the pink shawl thing.
I may be in the minority here but I love her. I love her attitude and her ability to stay true to herself. And I think she looks fantastic like this!
I agree. I think she looks great. Her skin looks softer and smoother – could that be the result of a chemical peel?
“Plum Velvet” is an EXQUISITE drag name. I know what I’m doing for Hallowoon next year.
Amazing!
LOL!!
Her haircut and terrible posture make her look frumpy and older than she is.
The biggest difference between how the Queen and Camilla wear their jewelry, as opposed to Kate, is that they first have the suite of jewels, and then they have a dress made to display the jewels.
Kate on the other hand, thinks almost any frock will do – mix and match!
So true.
Although I thought the dress Kate wore to display the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace was a perfect choice. Too bad she ruined it with her posture and hair.
Ditto the way she wore tiaras. Including her own wedding.
She looks wonderful.
There was a time , not very long ago, that Camilla, the Queen or one of the other Royal duchesses would have worn a tiara to the yearly royal film premier or Palladium shows but that has stopped since the the night Charles and Camilla were ambushed and attacked by baying student protesters during a London riot. These events have actually become more infrequent and much more low key over the past four years because it only leads to greater criticism. Sigh…. I miss the really big royal bling.
The still bring out the bling regularly in Scandinavia. I think the next tiara events there will be QMII’s 75th birthday celebrations in April. He gala dresses are being displayed in a special exhibition at Frederiksborg Castle and I can’t wait to go see them.
Thank heaven for the other Euro Royals, Queen Letizia has been a bit quite on the jewel front (the Spanish economy probably has a good deal to do with that) and the Belgians are rather short on royal gems so Queen Mathilde has a rather shallow jewel vault to choose from , but the Scandinavians and Queen Maxima can always be counted on to bring out the eye-poppers. Roll on April.
Letizia has a great earring collection. That’s how she sneaks in some bling.
Ah, Leti’s earrings – there are quite a few that I covet. It is also a great way to liven up a daytime outfit.
I’m looking at that necklace and thinking that the two bottom layers should be chopped off and made into a tiara. Not that Cam needs more tiaras, but…
Her other gifted necklace of diamonds and rubies is almost identical to this one. Honestly, the gift giving people have no imagination because you know this was probably bespoke.
http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/the-prince-of-wales-and-the-duchess-of-cornwall-visit-new-news-photo/113987924?et=ujJRSb_YSldYSiBxbA1pTA&referrer=http:%2F%2Forderofsplendor.blogspot.co.uk%2F
on the same note, I wonder of Sophie’s rubies are also in a similar design.
I think I said it somewhere upthread but the Saudis are the most unimaginative giftgivers when it comes to jewellery – lots of carat power but in pedestrian designs. If I were Camilla I would have them taken apart and have the stones used in new designs.