On the evening of the first day of the Japanese imperial couple’s state visit, June 25, 2024, Charles III and Queen Camilla held a sumptuous banquet at Buckingham Palace in their honor. The British sovereign, Empress Masako, Sophie of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester adorned themselves with their most beautiful tiaras. Review of these treasures.
In the East Gallery of Buckingham Palace, people are busy. Under the watchful eye of Queen Camilla, staff rearrange the impressive table set for the state banquet in honor of the Japanese imperial couple one last time. Welcomed earlier today by Charles III and his wife, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako are in fact making a three-day official visit to the United Kingdom. It was also side by side that the sovereigns entered the ballroom on June 25, followed by their respective wives. For the occasion, Queen Camilla and Empress Masako have drawn precious jewels from their royal caskets. Just like Sophie of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester who did not fail to make the British monarchy shine.
Read also >> Naruhito and Masako from Japan warmly welcomed by Charles III and Camilla
LThe imperial chrysanthemum tiara by Empress Masako
Since her enthronement in 2019, Empress Masako has never worn her hair before. However, it is one of the most spectacular jewels in the imperial collection. The chrysanthemum tiara, set with thousands of diamonds, was designed in 1917 by the Mikimoto jewelers – today the world leader in pearls – for Empress Teimei. Inspired by the imperial seal of Japan in the shape of a chrysanthemum, it has the particularity of being reserved for reigning empresses. It is also this remarkable head jewel that her mother-in-law, Empress Michiko, already wore during the last state banquet organized by Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 1998.
Read also >> Diamond adornments of Japanese empresses
Queen Camilla’s “Burmese Ruby Tiara”
Queen Camilla, for her part, opted for a tiara set with 96 rubies and diamonds representing… chrysanthemums! As a subtle nod to her guests, this exceptional piece was ordered by her mother-in-law from Garrard in the early 1970s. Elizabeth II had thus entrusted to the Crown jeweler the rubies offered to her by the Burmese government in 1947 in the occasion of her wedding to Prince Philip. She finally wore it for the first time, in May 1975, during a state visit to Japan. Another outburst, however, calls out. Not that of her necklace with three rows of diamond festoons (called the George VI Festoon necklace), but that of a small frame of round brilliants topped with a Tudor crown pinned to a sea green ribbon. In its center, a miniature of Charles III painted in oil. Camilla has just revealed her husband’s brand new family order.
The “Lotus Flower Tiara” by Sophie of Edinburgh
Radiant in her emerald Suzannah dress, the Duchess of Edinburgh created a surprise by styling the “Lotus Flower Tiara” so loved by Princess Margaret and so often worn by Kate. This headband, whose diamond patterns are reminiscent of papyrus leaves, was originally a necklace given to Queen Mum by her husband George VI as a wedding gift. Elizabeth will only wear it a few times and will give it to her youngest daughter. Upon her death, however, the jewel disappeared from circulation until the Princess of Wales reappeared with it at the diplomatic corps dinner in 2013. Sophie certainly had to obtain authorization from Queen Camilla to display it , tonight, with one of the Crown’s treasures.
Read also >> Kate styles Princess Margaret’s favorite tiara at Buckingham
The Duchess of Gloucester’s honeysuckle diadem
Just as impressive as the tiaras of Empress Masako and Queen Camilla, that of the Duchess of Gloucester nicknamed the “Cartier Indian tiara”. The jewel, composed of pearls, diamonds and sapphires, was made between 1906 and 1921 on behalf of Cartier by the jeweler Henri Pierre Lavabre. Its sponsor, Marie-Louise Princess of Schleswig-Holstein, is a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She notably styled it during the coronation of her cousin Elizabeth II in 1953, before bequeathing it to her godson, Prince Richard of Gloucester.
Read also >> Does the Duchess of Gloucester have the largest collection of tiaras in the royal family?
