King Charles III royal tour to Australia and the Samoa - Arrival
Posted by Arthur on October 19, 2024, 1:47 pm
For her arrival to Sydney airport on October 18th, along with King Charles III, at the beginning of their tour of Australia and the Samoa Islands on the occasion of the Commonwealth summit, Queen Camilla wore Queen Elizabeth II's Australian Wattle Brooch.
A lovely mark of attention for her Australian hosts - but also not an unexpected choice, as this brooch had been presented to Queen Elizabeth II by the Australian government on her first visit to Australia in 1953.
I hope that this royal tour to Australia will be an opportunity for Queen Camilla to wear other jewels with an Australian connection:
- the opal and gold brooch presented as a wedding gift in 1947 to Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) by the Returned Sailors', Soldiers' and Airmens Imperial League of Australia:
- the opal and diamond demi-parure with the over-sized "Star of Andamooka" opal, presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953:
- the opal pendant and the opal earrings presented as wedding gifts to Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) in 1947, respectively by the city council of Brisbane and by the Queensland branches of the Royal Society of Saint George (I don't think that Queen Elizabeth II has ever worn them publicly)
- the ruby and diamond Hibiscus brooch presented by the Australian government to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1958 :
Re: King Charles III royal tour to Australia and the Samoa - Arrival
Thank you Arthur for that coverage of some Australian gifts.
I do hope Queen Camilla does not feel obliged to wear that over-sized opal. The gem is probably glorious to see but the item is too much for anyone to wear with great confidence. Perhaps the original donors could consider offering to reset it in a modern item of jewellery with better effect.
That's Diana's father behind.
Re: King Charles III royal tour to Australia and the Samoa - Arrival
I respectfully disagree with Nellie on this point. Even if the opal is very large, I feel that the necklace, as a whole, is not overwhelming. Actually, it does not look that much bigger, or longer, than other necklaces more frequently worn by the British/Australian royal ladies, especially necklaces with a pendant hanging from them (see below the comparison with King George VI's sapphire necklace, Queen Victoria's ruby necklace and Queen Elizabeth II's Brazilian aquamarine necklace). Therefore, Queen Camilla could probably wear the Andamooka necklace without anyone feeling it looks "too much".
I agree, though, that the design of the necklace is a bit akward, with such a sharp contrast between the large opal and the delicate scroll diamond motives on the sides. The Andamooka opal would be probably more convincing as a brooch (just enhanced by a simple surround of diamonds, like the Prince Albert brooch) rather than as the centre of this necklace.
Anyway, just for the fun of shaking the dust from this necklace (and also as a mark of respect for this gift from the Australian people), I do really hope that the Andamooka necklace will be worn by Queen Camilla during her Australian tour!
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Thank you Arthur for that coverage of some Australian gifts.
I do hope Queen Camilla does not feel obliged to wear that over-sized opal. The gem is probably glorious to see but the item is too much for anyone to wear with great confidence. Perhaps the original donors could consider offering to reset it in a modern item of jewellery with better effect.
That's Diana's father behind.
Re: King Charles III royal tour to Australia and the Samoa - Arrival
Yes, it is the design of the piece that makes it awkward to wear, in my view. I should have made that clearer. The necklace itself is OK but not for that gem. The two do not go well together.
Perhaps the opal would be more wearable as a brooch. I picture it horizontal but angled somewhat , and appearing to float inside a largish asymmetrical (rectangular) surround composed of a number of asymmetrical pieces of something. Gold? Silver? Enamels? And such a brooch could be worn pendant from a very fine silver or gold chain only - attached to the top corners.
That's more than enough of my ideas.
Re: King Charles III royal tour to Australia and the Samoa - Arrival
Yes, Arthur, I agree, and if anyone, Camilla is the one to carry the opal necklace off!
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I respectfully disagree with Nellie on this point. Even if the opal is very large, I feel that the necklace, as a whole, is not overwhelming. Actually, it does not look that much bigger, or longer, than other necklaces more frequently worn by the British/Australian royal ladies, especially necklaces with a pendant hanging from them (see below the comparison with King George VI's sapphire necklace, Queen Victoria's ruby necklace and Queen Elizabeth II's Brazilian aquamarine necklace). Therefore, Queen Camilla could probably wear the Andamooka necklace without anyone feeling it looks "too much".
I agree, though, that the design of the necklace is a bit akward, with such a sharp contrast between the large opal and the delicate scroll diamond motives on the sides. The Andamooka opal would be probably more convincing as a brooch (just enhanced by a simple surround of diamonds, like the Prince Albert brooch) rather than as the centre of this necklace.
Anyway, just for the fun of shaking the dust from this necklace (and also as a mark of respect for this gift from the Australian people), I do really hope that the Andamooka necklace will be worn by Queen Camilla during her Australian tour!
Previous Message
Thank you Arthur for that coverage of some Australian gifts.
I do hope Queen Camilla does not feel obliged to wear that over-sized opal. The gem is probably glorious to see but the item is too much for anyone to wear with great confidence. Perhaps the original donors could consider offering to reset it in a modern item of jewellery with better effect.
That's Diana's father behind.
Re: King Charles III royal tour to Australia and the Samoa - Arrival
The Opals are stunning. The earrings might still be wearable. The current necklace looks rather awkward. The large Opal might even be too heavy mounted as a brooch... Museum pieces.
Previous Message
I respectfully disagree with Nellie on this point. Even if the opal is very large, I feel that the necklace, as a whole, is not overwhelming. Actually, it does not look that much bigger, or longer, than other necklaces more frequently worn by the British/Australian royal ladies, especially necklaces with a pendant hanging from them (see below the comparison with King George VI's sapphire necklace, Queen Victoria's ruby necklace and Queen Elizabeth II's Brazilian aquamarine necklace). Therefore, Queen Camilla could probably wear the Andamooka necklace without anyone feeling it looks "too much".
I agree, though, that the design of the necklace is a bit akward, with such a sharp contrast between the large opal and the delicate scroll diamond motives on the sides. The Andamooka opal would be probably more convincing as a brooch (just enhanced by a simple surround of diamonds, like the Prince Albert brooch) rather than as the centre of this necklace.
Anyway, just for the fun of shaking the dust from this necklace (and also as a mark of respect for this gift from the Australian people), I do really hope that the Andamooka necklace will be worn by Queen Camilla during her Australian tour!
Previous Message
Thank you Arthur for that coverage of some Australian gifts.
I do hope Queen Camilla does not feel obliged to wear that over-sized opal. The gem is probably glorious to see but the item is too much for anyone to wear with great confidence. Perhaps the original donors could consider offering to reset it in a modern item of jewellery with better effect.
on October 19, 2024, 1:47 pm
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