The Diamond Jubilee Tour: The Earl and Countess of Wessex's Visit to Gibraltar

In the midst of all the controversy surrounding their visit to 'The Rock,' the Earl and Countess of Wessex have truly shown their glamorous sides and warmth which make them one of my favourite royals. Personally, I don't know what this whole political boom-bah is all about- an overwhelming 99% of Gibraltarians chose to remain a British overseas territory in a recent referendum. So, at the end of the day, it's the people who decide, and they have chosen to stay British. 

I've gotta hand it to her- The Countess of Wessex looked amazing and ultra-glamorous during the visit, rocking those sunglasses! Not sure about those 'trousers' though... I've always admired her human touch, and the fact that she isn't afraid to disregard protocol and kiss oldies and carry babies. 

And my favourite photo:

Pictures: BBC/Daily Telegraph

The Diamond Jubilee Tour: Nottingham

In a visit to the East Midlands, the Queen, without Prince Philip was received by thousands of well-wishers just a week after her Diamond Jubilee tour. In the Duke of Edinburgh's absence, HM was accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It was a spectacular visit, topped of with a wonderful balcony appearance reminiscent of those at Buckingham Palace. The crowd in the packed Old Market Square below was a sight to behold.

Click for a magnificent 500-megapixel photo of Old Market Square.

The Queen wore her customary Angela Kelly outfit, whilst the Duchess of Cambridge recycled her Missoni coat and dress, which she wore to a visit with QE and the Duchess of Cornwall to Fortnum and Mason. The Duchess seems to be fitting remarkably well into royal life, and is so elegant whilst having fun at the same time. I admire the fact that she doesn't try to upstage the Queen, whilst complementing her so perfectly.

One of the main features of the day was a touching speech by the Duke of Cambridge in honour of his grandmother- "How grateful we are for the extraordinary love and devotion you have shown to the people of this country and the Commonwealth." The Duke and Duchess also showed their competitive side, seeing who could throw a foam 'javelin' the furthest. We can say the Duke won. As the Queen left for Burghley House in Stamford, the new royal couple stayed behind to walk amongst the crowd. QE also completed her obligatory royal duties, planting trees, unveiling plaques, and signing a visitor's book.

Pictures: BBC and The Daily Mail

The Kents

By Cecil Beaton

Top Left to Bottom Right: Princess Alexandra, Princess Marina, Prince George, George and Marina, The Duke and Duchess of Kent, Prince Michael

Jubilance Part 3- The National Service of Thanksgiving, Carriage Procession and Balcony Appearance

I might as well come straight out with it, although I'm not proud of what I am going to say- not my favourite event. It lacked the pomp and splendour of recent Jubilees, and the slimming down of the family wasn't my cup of tea. So I'll start with the negatives:

No Gold State Coach!
Gah! It's my favourite carriage, and has been used at the two previous Jubilees, so why not make it a tradition and reuse it for this one? Seriously, HM arrived in a car. A CAR! And left in the modest 1902 State Landau. I yearn for those pictures of the Queen riding through narrow London streets in the magnificent gilded coach. Sigh...

Lack of Crowds
This really broke my heart and confused it as well. I'm not sure if they weren't allowed in certain areas, but some parts of the procession route were empty with no people, some with a scattering and some ten deep.

Scaled Down Royal Family

Whilst it was a symbolic sight, the mere six members of the Royal Family on the palace balcony didn't impress. I love all those huge family gatherings, where the balcony is packed with members. This appearance made it look empty and scarce, and failed to produce the magical effect seen at the Golden Jubilee. I don't know, maybe it was just the amazing canopy for the Golden Jubilee. And did anyone else notice the clear 'class' separation between Senior and Extended members of the family? Maybe it's a sign of things to come. 

Now, enough of my ramblings, time to focus on the positive aspects of the day!

As the Queen left Buckingham Palace, without Prince Philip, the crowds started cheering wildly. I was impressed with Lady Farnham's (her lady-in-waiting) filling-in, and she did it with subtle grace. It was magical as HM arrived at St. Paul's, as cheers of 'God Save the Queen' were heard from the crowd. The fanfares signalled her arrival and then it was time to get things underway. A main feature of the service was the music, and I must say, I LOVE royal music. The processional, "Te Deum in G" was magnificent, and the hymns took my breath away. "Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer was particularly resounding- I didn't expect the trumpet start and the climax at the end. 

The Queen wore and mint green embroidered Angela Kelly outfit, studded with a countless array of Swarovski crystals. I loved the chiffon drape flowing down her back- a lovely addition. The main highlight was the Cullian III and IV brooch she wore- shining like a beacon, and fitting for the Diamond Jubilee. The Duchess of Cambridge looked absolutely radiant in another Alexander McQueen outfit- very elegant indeed! Read orderofsplendor's very insightful glance into it's history. 

After the service, the Queen was transported to Mansion House to attend a short reception, whilst other members of the family gathered at Guildhall. Both parties then combined at Westminster Hall for a luncheon, complete with fanfares and beautiful music. Then the day really started to shine, with a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace. Yay! Days of old! It was very interesting to see the Duchess of Cornwall ride next to the Queen, suggesting that they are growing closer.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, The Princess Royal, The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Edward, The Countess of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor, Zara Philips

Prince and Princess Michael, The Duke and Duchess of Kent, The Duchess of Gloucester

As the condensed  Royal Family gathered on the palace balcony, it was great to see the full love and adoration of the crowd shine through. The packed mall flooded me with nostalgia, and the Feu de Joie (rifle salute) was a lot of fun. A flypast, complete with a Red Arrows display was also conducted. My favourite moment was the three cheers for the Queen, when the crowd erupted in loud 'hoorays!' 

Overall, a fabulous day to wrap up the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and some rather interesting signs for the future!

Pictures: Daily Mail & The Telegraph

Jubilance Part 2- The Diamond Jubilee Concert

Anyone notice that the Royals were particularly patriotic during the jubilee? And the concert was no exception. Obviously, the biggest news accompanying the right royal bash was Prince Philip's hospitalisation Update: He is now out of hospital, and by all accounts is doing well. During his speech, the Prince of Wales' made a moving tribute to his father, accompanied by wild cheers from the crowd gathered on the Mall.

Many stars dazzled the Royal Family and the crowd who came to see them- Will.i.am, Jessie J, Kylie Minogue, Rolf Harris, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Robbie Williams and many more.

And then there was Grace Jones..

I need not say any more..

Now, let's move on, shall we? The Royal Family were of course seated in the royal box. Queen Elizabeth arrived without Prince Philip, accompanied to her seat by her son, Prince Charles. She wore her Admiral's Boat Cloak, which did look very imposing. As she appeared on stage during the conclusion of the concert, she turned up in a sparkly gold party dress, and did look jubilant- quite fitting. Practically, all of the Royal Family attended, many of whom sang-along to the songs fervently, especially Princess Anne!

As the concert wrapped up, Prince Charles gave a moving tribute to his mother, calling her "Mummy," reflecting his speech during her Golden Jubilee Concert. He asked the crowd for three cheers fro Her Majesty, and they replied very, very loudly. The Queen then lit the final Diamond Jubilee beacon, the crowning jewel of a network of beacons across the Commonwealth and the world. And no, that isn't a real diamond, merely crystal.

The concert then finished with a bang as fireworks erupted from the palace facade, accompanied by traditional British music. It was a truly spectacular night, evident by the crowds that packed the Mall. Isn't just beautiful?

And for a complete list of the who's who's in the Royal Box, please refer to the picture below, from the Daily Mail.

Next up: The Service of Thanksgiving and the Carriage Procession

Jubilance Part 1- The Thames Pageant

Although London delivered typical British weather, it certainly didn't stop an amazing spectacle of a flotilla of 1000 boats sailing down the Thames- truly a moment in history. I've got to admit, the size of the crowds really surprised me, with a million people lining the banks of the Thames. Never have I seen so many since the coronation! It was great to see people crowded on balconies with Union Jacks draped everywhere. The spectacle was the UK in all its glory.

Loved the music from the London Philharmonic Orchestra- Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia! etc.
There were some technical glitches, like the sound dying halfway through the National Anthem. Didn't except the fireworks, and the fanfares as the Queen boarded the Royal Barge was fabulous. The Royal Family did look delighted and it was adorable as they bopped around to nautical tunes. The Duchess of Cornwall was really getting into the spirit of things, which I admire, and was seen sharing jokes with the Duchess of Cambridge.

Although there were some great shots of the flotilla in all its glory, the BBC coverage was a major letdown. Here in Australia, we were forced to watch it, and by god it was terrible. As the actual event got underway after an hour of hype, they cut back to the studio and start playing pre-recorded interviews with special guests. Seriously people! And I know it was raining, but there were random raindrop-filled shots of a woman's hair. Sigh...

Anyways, lets get down to business-

The Star of the Show: Queen Elizabeth really let herself loose this weekend, and I noticed a pattern of jewel/crystal- studded outfits. She really embraced her nautical side today, and was draped in a shawl aboard the Royal Barge. I was wondering what that tea-towel like thing was for! Thumbs up for QE for not sitting down once through the whole thing. She did look delighted.

The Royal Trio: As time passes, I'm seeing a new pattern emerge- Kate, Will and Harry, Kate, Will and Harry, Kate, Will and Harry. It's lovely to see her getting on so well with her brother-in-law, and she looked stunning in a bright crimson Alexander McQueen dress with a matching hat- another pattern maybe?

Mad, Camera, Flag-Waving Royals: I must say, many members of the extended section of the Royal Family (except for the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales) were under a bout of Jubilee-fever. Symptoms? The mad shaking of flags, taking pictures from your mobile, and dressing up in spray jackets. Princess Michael of Kent's outfit was amazing, and so elegant!

So that's the Thames Pageant all wrapped up. Next up will be the Diamond Jubilee Concert!

Programming: I'm Back!!

So exams are over, so be prepared for a torrent of Jubilee posts!