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    Re: Melbourne, Australia, May 1901 - the full story Archived Message

    Posted by Nellie on March 11, 2013, 7:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Melbourne, Australia, May 1901 - the full story"


    Thank you Torkel for that coverage.
    I suppose I should have mentioned that I was covering only occasions when the Duchess would not be wearing a hat or toque so there was scope for a head ornament.
    I do agree about the white sash - see lower.

    On reflection I do think she would have had enough diamonds and pearls from her wedding gifts.
    I can think of four tiaras/necklaces - Girls, Ladies, Surrey, QV - and Kensington and Dorset bows, and so on.

    The reports are certainly glowing of her jewels, but the local ladies shone as well with their tiaras and diamonds.
    And the Duchess's Ladies in Waiting too.

    --Previous Message--
    : Thank you, Nellie, for all these details. Very
    : interesting.
    :
    : Some additions to the programme - these are
    : from The Times, who had a reporter following
    : the tour. Reports are rather enthusiastic,
    : but hardly ever mentions dresses, clothes or
    : jewels.
    :
    : 06.05.1901 - Arrival to Melbourne,
    : Governor-general and senior ministers
    : welcome royals on board HMS Ophir, landing
    : and welcomming ceremony at St Kilda,
    : procession through city to Government House,
    : welcome by Mayor outside on the steps,
    : welcome at Parliament House, banquet at
    : Government House
    : 07.05.1901 - Levée, presentation of
    : adresses, Chinese procession through city,
    : reception in the Royal Exhibition building,
    : visit to foreign warships
    : 08.05.1901 - Presentation of South Africa
    : war medals
    : 09.05.1901 - Opening of the Australian
    : Federal Parliament, State reception at
    : Parliament House, evening gala reception at
    : Government House
    : 10.05.1901 - Military march-past at
    : Flemington racecourse where DoC inspected
    : the troops, reception given by Mayor at Town
    : hall,
    : 11.05.1901 - Procession of trade and
    : friendly societies, visit to University of
    : Melbourne where DoC received honorary
    : degree, children´s tea party, Privy Council,
    : reception at Government House, Naval and
    : Military tattoo
    : 12.05.1901 - Divine service at St. Paul´s
    : Cathedral, DoC hosted dinner for officers on
    : board Ophir
    : 13.05.1901 - Visit to Ballarat, DoC lays
    : foundation of a statue to honour soldiers,
    : visit to Ballarat Town Hall, visit to South
    : Star Mine
    : 14.05.1901 - DoC and DssoC presented prizes
    : to boys of public schools at Exhibition
    : building, presentation of adresses from
    : Women´s societies to DssoC at Government
    : House, DssoC visit to Women´s Hospital
    :
    : I am fairly certain the white sash reported
    : was the white sash of the Order of Victoria
    : and Albert. It was a house order awarded by
    : Queen Victoria to ladies of her family and
    : court, worn in a small bow, but worn
    : occasionally by the most senior ladies of
    : the royal family in a sash. The Duchess
    : appears to wear this in the photograph
    : kindly provided by Janet B, which shows the
    : couple dressed for the day-time events on
    : May 9.
    : She is also most likely wearing the light
    : blue bow of the Order of the Crown of India.
    :
    : Why do you think the Duchess had lent
    : jewels? She received quite a lot for her
    : wedding, and I cannot recall her borrowing
    : jewels from her mother in law on other
    : occasions. Due to mourning she could only
    : wear diamonds, pearls and mourning colours,
    : but she would probably have enough diamonds
    : from her wedding to last throughout a week
    : of dinners.

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