More Popery

Over at the Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor blog there's an interesting post on the royal attendees of the Pope Francis' inaugural mass. If anyone is interested in dress code, and in particular the privilège du blanc, then I'd certainly recommend popping over there. Follow the links she posts, there are some nice pics of popes from John XXIII onwards with various royals.

I'm just going to nick a picture of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.  Since it was announced the they were to represent the Queen at the mass, my 'Royals in Medals' profile of them has been held the top spot in the visitor stats, so see this as my cheap attempt to grab more hits!  It's not shown in this photo, but the poor duchess had to sit next to Ken Clarke (which might explain why she's looking a little deafened).

On the 'Royals in Medals' front there's nothing new to add here - the orders and medals are explained in my previous post.  It's interesting to see the duchess choosing the Royal Family Order, GCVO, Diamond Jubilee Medal (on bow) combo - why the last as opposed to anything else?  It looks a little cluttered; but there's no real significance in any of this.

I've just noticed that in my profile post I'd said the duke has the Nepal Coronation medal, but haven't mentioned in the duchess' medals though she is clearly wearing it in the photo.

One other small point of no interest.  When did you last see a UK diplomat (other than the late lamented Rex Hunt) in Levee Dress?  Well, here's one http://www.flickr.com/photos/ukinholysee/8579000797/.  Perhaps when the Ambassador's blog is updated he'll explain why he hasn't mounted up his jubilee medal (or perhaps he's been a naughty boy and didn't get one).

By the way, in her blog post OSS says one of the wisest things I've ever read about ceremonial

I have a personal theory on all issues of protocol, by the way: just when you think you've got the "rules" down, you will find an example to contradict you. Therefore, by the transitive property of meh, you shouldn't worry about it too much.

I shall cite the 'transitive power of meh' in future.

Thursday is Tiara Day

Thursday is Tiara Day over on the Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor, which thereby deserves a plug.

The ROSS describes itself a 'purely frivolous and perfectly harmless snark and admiration for all things stylish and royal', and is just that.  It manages to talk about royals and fashion without being at all catty or nasty (a feat in itself if the rest of the Internet is any guide) and is a nice, friendly place.  Mind you, there aren't many places you can be accused of being Politically Correct for saying you wouldn't be too keen on the associations of a tiara gifted by the Belgian colony of the Congo...

Now, I don't list looking at pictures of beautiful women in expensive clothes among my interests, so what could be in it for me?

Well it turns out that the history of royal jewelry is very interesting.  ROSS gives regular, detailed and well-illustrated histories of these jewels.  As I say, Thursday is Tiara Day - tiaras are much more frequently seen on the Continent than in the UK - and there are some corkers.  Sundays used to be Elizabeth II's Jewelry Day, but such was the interest, this recently spawned a blog of its own.

For those interested, the regular features are:

• The Royal Fashion Awards
• Weeks in Review
• Gold Stars: Achievements in Splendor
• Random Royal Appreciation
• Things That Make You Go Hmm...
• Royal Trend Watches
• Royal Splendor 101
• Wedding Wednesdays
• Tiara Thursdays
• Flashback Fridays
• Top 10 Lists

Today they've gone all Malaysian.

Update on Bishop Brindle: Educating a Spanish Queen

 
The guys over at the British Medals Forum have identified Brindle's star as that of the Spanish Order of Isabella la Catolica.

There's even a good suggestion of why he should have received it:-

Princes Ena was Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg (1887–1969), the daughter of Princess Beatrice, and thus a niece of Edward VII and grand-daughter of Queen Victoria.  She married King Alfonso XIII of Spain on 31 May 1906 .  As they were returning from the wedding, they narrowly escaped a bomb thrown from a high window; the explosion killed or injured many bystanders and members of the procession.

Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain

As any OOS fan will tell you, in the above portrait, the queen is wearing what is technically known as a Stonking Great Tiara.