Wessex to Edinburgh: Dukedoms, designers and definitely bling - royal style and beauty

[Maireas]

Join the gang!
Waves to long term friends, happy to see newbies!

That's some corsetry there. All her outfits must have been reinforced. She wore a tiara to dinner every evening, even during the war. I like that attitude.

I really like the Love Collar. Apparently it’s still in the vaults… @Maireas, please can I have it?
It would take a seriously spectacular event, a very simple well cut gown and an up do, but I’d let Kate borrow it if she wanted😉.
I can never get past Mary’s insistence at wearing all the jewellery all at once, she certainly didn’t believe in less is more did she??

As someone said a few threads ago, that was possibly to do with her childhood and feelings of insecurity as she was from a fairly minor brand of the family. And having such a beautiful and elegant MiL as Alexandra probably didn't help either. Perhaps she felt she had to compensate by dazzling everyone with her bling!

Those are good points, @KillingMeDeftly .
Also, she witnessed the Fall of Eagles, all those royals who lost everything after WW1, and were exiled in reduced circumstances. The jewellery is "portable wealth". Some surviving Romanov royals were able to sell jewellery to remain solvent.

@gluenotsoup - Queen Mary's Love Collar ✔️

That's beautiful, but I am not surprised is hasn't been worn since, it looks potentially uncomfortable and unflattering. I reckon Kate could look fabulous in it though, she's got a lovely long slim neck.

Slightly surprised we never saw Diana in it, choker necklaces were fashionable in the 80s and she often wore them.

I just love Queen Mary's commitment to sparkles, if you are going to have royalty they should at least be bloody glamorous. None of this breakfast cereal in Tupperware crap, we want to see the diamonds and lots of them!

I agree, Catherine could definitely wear that collar.

Love Trophy is such a wild modern Instagram sort of name. I also enjoy how Queen Mary wore it with a tiara. None of that look in the mirror and take one thing off nonsense.

Thanks for the history there, Maireas and Killingmedeftly. Events and class etc at the time will most definitely have affected how they felt. I suppose I made the mistake of not thinking of worries and insecurities, they were real people at the end of the day. 💐♥️

Queen Mary was aware of at least 2 Grand Duchesses who arrived from central Europe with very little, but had gems sewn into their corsets.

Kate could carry off that choker but I think it might be a little ostentatious for her. She seems to prefer understated jewels, as do most of them these days. Not sure it's quite the done thing to go about so visibly dripping in diamonds anymore!

It's a shame, with a simple understated dress it would look amazing!

Well.. I’m not denying it’s a bit bling but I’m very sure I can rock it in Tesco for

I think it would make a lovely tiara.

I'm very envious of your new acquisition @gluenotsoup! What a splendid and unusual piece. As you say, perfect for popping to the shops.

Lovely photo of the PoW and her three children posted for Mother's Day. It was obviously taken on the same occasion as their Christmas card photograph.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11877949/Prince-William-Kate-Middleton-share-family-pic-George-Charlotte-Louis-Mothers-Day.html?ito=native_share_article-top
Yes, the photos are lovely. That's a great one of Kate and the children in the tree. Also, just a nice message, nothing mawkish about Diana.

… and definitely in the Marks and Sparks ruckus 😂

*Charles and Camilla captioned the post: 'To all mothers everywhere, and to those who may be missing their mums today, we are thinking of you and wishing you a special Mother's Day.

I must be getting sappy in my old age that made me go a bit.

The place feels a bit wrong without the gaffer but not as wrong as it must feel for KC.

Camilla’s mam looks like an indominatable bird. QC is the same I think - with the same twinkle.

Talking of Markies rammies. I was involved in one today. Senza tiara. A fastest fingers first scenario.

Bargain Seafood gratin. And bargaingarlic ciab. Bazinga. 🐽

Lovw when Markies knows the right things to reduce for my tea. 😊

boldy fail. I blame Markies for not reducing a cream cake pud.

You know, Shelley, I thought that caption was touching as well. Not overdone, not mawkish, but very apt.
More power to your elbow in Markies! Sounds like a delicious meal!😋 Shame about the pud....

I’m eating for two.

Cheeks 🍑

😂🤭!

You don’t need any mawk on the day of mams Maireas. Just a wee bit reflection.

For you cherub 🌻 x

They don’t get to this size all by themselves.

oh for a bustle to disguise the buggers! It wouldn’t even have to be padded. Just a bit of strategically placed material. 😆