Coronation exhibit at Buckingham PalaceArchived Message
Posted by windsorfan on August 20, 2013, 9:46 pm
I had the privilege of touring the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace and seeing the Coronation exhibit on display late last week. The entire experience - especially for a "jewlie" like me - was amazing. To see in person the paintings we have all looked at millions of times when trying to nail down information on specific jewels was very moving. Seeing the opulence and grandeur of the rooms where the jewels have sparkled was indeed an honor. And knowing that I was in relative close proximity to the fabled Windsor vaults left me a little lightheaded. The staff at the palace were very friendly and the two nice ladies I spoke to in particular regarding the painting of Queen Alexandra in the White Drawing Room were very chatty and knowledgeable. How cool is it that the mirror and table to the left of the painting open to reveal a hidden door that HM uses to enter and leave the room?!
Here are a few observations I had with regards to the jewels worn by various members of the royal family to the Coronation in 1953. These are my personal opinions and in no way imply any sort of official knowledge.
I was surprised that the halo tiara worn by Pss Margaret (and recently by the Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding day) wasn't as dainty as I had imagined. It seemed alot more substantial in person. A very beautiful piece!!
The Greville peardrop earrings worn by The Queen Mother were huge!! I couldn't get over how they caught the light - even in the dimly lit room. I can only imagine how heavy they would be to wear.
Queen Victoria's fringe brooch was a thing of sheer beauty. I was impressed by the immense size of that center stone. Definitely a piece that deserves more showings!
And finally the Coronation necklace and earrings.....Wow!! Huge stones with an incredible ability to capture and reflect the light. I didn't realize how small the necks of the various Queens that have worn the necklace must be. It didn't seem to have a large circumference at all. The earrings were an impressive size and looked positively stunning! And like the Greville earrings, I must wonder just how heavy these would feel to the wearer.
The Palace doesn't allow photography, and I was respectful of the rules. I'll admit it was VERY hard not to sneak a few, but I managed to behave.
These last 3 photos are just pictures I took of the front and rear views of the palace as well as a nice shot of the gardens. I would love to hear the thoughts of anyone else who has seen this exhibit or saw the jewels during the Diamond Jubilee exhibit. I apologize for the length of this post, or if it strayed off topic.
on August 20, 2013, 9:46 pm
