Thursday, 14 March 2024

Why doesn't this royal event look just, well, more glamourous?

 



It's that time of year again. The sun is starting to set a little later, the birds are getting up a bit earlier (5am here this morning which is excessive in March) and the royal calendar heads into annual events territory. Yes, mid March means Cheltenham and, once more, these days at the racing are proving, well, slightly dowdy.

One of the world's prettiest tiaras, end of

 


Princess Madeleine in one of the famous aquamarine tiaras belong to Sweden's royals
(photo kungauset.se)

Let's start with the star tiara of this month's birthstone. Right now, say royal and aquamarines in close proximity and someone will say Princess Madeleine. The Aquamarine Kokoshnik that the sixth in line to the throne of Sweden has made her go to is among the most photographed diadems of recent years. But the sparkler actually belongs to her auntie and is one of two aquamarine tiaras that call the Swedish royal jewellery box home. To start off Aquamarines for March, we're off to Sweden.

Wednesday, 13 March 2024

Time to lay off Kate

 




OK everyone, you've had your fun. Time to move along. If only it were that simple. But the past few days have shown a side of royal life that few would covet. The Princess of Wales has been the subject of a social media pile on that's turned into  a global controversy that makes little sense. And just when you think the craziness is finished, it ramps up again to something even more ludicrous than before. And through it all, the actual human being at its centre seems to be forgotten. It's time to lay off Kate.

The Victorian royal March brides

 


March royal brides are now rare but go back just a few decades and that's not the case. In particular, Queen Victoria's children were rather partial to a March wedding. Among her nine children are three who wed in this blowy, showy month that bridges winter and spring and that means a hat trick of Victorian March Royal Brides.....

The March birthdays of the House of Windsor

 




The House of Windsor has a hat trick of high profile royal babies who arrived in March among its current members. And the good news is that they all celebrate towards the middle or end of the month so you've got plenty of time yet to get the post. While you pick out patterns and think of jolly messages, here's a look at the House of Windsor's March royal babies.....

Aquamarines for March


Remember that knockout tiara from what would be the last State Visit that Prince Philip had a real involvement with? And we're not talking La Buena here? While Queen Letizia brought all the glitz to the 2017 trip with the Spanish Royal Family's most famous diadem that can trace its history back all the way to the start of the 20th century, Queen Elizabeth II brought out a very modern addition to her own collection, all featuring a stone traditionally associated with March birthdays. And it's not the only set of that stone in the House of Windsor's vast jewel collection. Here come the aquamarines....

Queens of England: past, present and future

 


You know when you lose your mojo? Well, me and this site lost it a little while ago and we've been trying to reconnect ever since. I am hoping this is the moment. No editing involved.