Note: We will avoid discussion of American politicians, political wives and families, and policy on these U.S. state visit posts. We will instead focus on the royals, and we ask that you follow suit in the comments. Thanks!
The U.S. President and First Lady, accompanied by their family, will begin a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom starting June 3. We will update this post with photos of the royal participants as they become available. Actual times can be found here.
Day 1:
Ceremonial Welcome Buckingham Palace Gardens (The Queen, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall)
Private Lunch (Members of the Royal Family)
Visit Westminster Abbey (Duke of York)
Tea at Clarence House (Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall)
State Banquet (The Queen and Members of the Royal Family)
Day 2:
Business Breakfast Downing Street (Prime Minister)
Business Talks and Joint Press Conference (Prime Minister)
Return Dinner Winfield House (Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall)
Day 3:
Commemorative Events 75th Anniversary D-Day (The Queen and Prince of Wales)
Formal Farewell (The Queen)
For the welcome ceremony, The Queen is wearing a coat by Stewart Parvin in pale green over a pleated silk dress. Her hat is by Rachel Trevor-Morgan, and I believe we spy the Cambridge Emerald brooch which, geek that I am, excites me a bit too much. She is flanked by two ladies in white, which makes for quite a visual impact and makes me wonder how planned these appearances are. The Duchess of Cornwall is wearing an Anna Valentine dress and Philip Treacy hat. Thanks to AG, we have identified the Duchess’ choker as the four-strand with a small diamond clasp.
Banquet photos are coming in. White gowns and tiara surprises are the order of the night. Starting with the center of it all: here is the Queen, in the Burmese Ruby and Queen Victoria’s Crown Ruby Earrings and Necklace.
The Duchess of Cornwall, also in a repeated white gown, wearing the Boucheron Honeycomb tiara. May I add, great hair, ma’am ; ).
The Duchess of Cambridge, in the Cambridge Lovers Knot, and wearing her new family order and sash. She’s wearing a fabulously frothy and tiered lace white dress by Alexander McQueen. She is wearing the dangling sapphire and diamond fringe earrings from the Queen Mother’s collection. She has a four strand pearl bracelet on her wrist, and we believe we spy her Oak Leaf brooch securing her sash.
The Countess of Wessex, sporting her newly configured Wedding tiara (closer photos downthread), and a lovely lavender gown.
The Duchess of Gloucester, looking terrific in blue and her Honeysuckle tiara (links and close up photos below).
Princess Michael, in the Kent Pearl Festoon (close-up below) and Princess Alexandra, in the Ogilvy tiara.
Princess Anne, wearing the utterly fabulous and completely under-utilized Aquamarine Pineflower tiara. The brooch used to secure her sash was originally part of the tiara.
We have some fairly good up close photos of tiaras from the passing cars. Prince and Princess Michael, she in the Kent Festoon tiara.
Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, she in the Gloucester Honeysuckle tiara.
The Duchess of Cambridge in the Cambridge Lovers Knot, with a pair of sapphire and diamond danglers (previously seen in 2015).
Of course, the most exciting tiara sighting has been the new, tightened up version of Sophie’s wedding tiara. Doesn’t it look much better? Cat ears begone. All her jewels are on point tonight. The necklace is tentatively identified as from the Queen’s drop demi-parure.
Some good sparkle if you swipe through to the video below! It’s the third image.
Photos of the return dinner at Winfield House – the residence of the Ambassador of the US – are trickling through. Camilla’s second evening look of the week is a white gown with sheer sleeves and a floral embroidered overlay, by Fiona Clare. Personally, I am happy to see she went with ice and not pearls around her neck, since we can’t get enough of her Pear Drop Diamond demi parure .
They can can invite me over for dinner at Winfield House any time! Lovely setting, isn’t it?
On Wednesday, Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II attended the D-day 75 Commemorations in Portsmouth, England. The political heads of 16 countries involved in World War II joined the event. All 16* signed an historic proclamation of peace to ensure the horrors of the Second World War are never repeated.
*(Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.)
The Queen wore a pink coat over a floral silk dress. Her choice of the Centenary Rose brooch is sentimental and highly personal, a tribute to her mother. As the embodiment of living history, I often wonder what the Queen is thinking of at events like this.
The text of the Queen’s remarks is below.
Finally, a video of The Queen’s remarks. With that, we conclude our “official” State Visit coverage. The comments will remain open for a few more days. Up next: Brit Brief Open Post – Trooping the Colour. Look for it late Friday evening or early Saturday morning. The event itself begins June 8, at 10:00 a.m. local time.