British press are running stories from the coronation, which of course was a year after the Queen's accession to the throne. I was struck by some anecdotes about jewels, and some poor behaviour of some peers.
A royal cypher was also cut out of a chair and when the vacuumed dust was filtered next day it revealed fallen gems – one valuable diamond necklace went unclaimed for six weeks. Politician Sir Henry ‘Chips’ Channon described in his diary the nobility’s problems. ‘Coaches and robes, tiaras and decorations… Winnie Portarlington announced at luncheon that she has a harness but no coach, Circe [the Marchioness of Londonderry] has a coach but no horses, Mollie Buccleuch has no postilions – but five tiaras.’ The night before the event, £50,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from the Knightsbridge home of the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, so that the duchess and several guests had to wear paste gems. The coach bearing the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Debo, got lost en route to the abbey.
It seems strange that the Sutherland house party had paste gems ready at such short notice. Maybe copies made for insurance reasons?
on February 6, 2012, 3:15 pm