Royal Style and Beauty - Trooping on, through summer and beyond!

[Maireas]

Although the summer so far has been disappointing!
More style and beauty sharing and discussion, thank you to everyone who makes these threads so enjoyable! 🤩

😂😂

I’d be the clumsy oaf that broke the Victoria gravy jug or cracked a George V bowl 😂

I know they have historical (for want of a better word) cutlery sets, but no idea about crockery

Why are the knives and forks on the wrong side of the plates?

Well it seems Charles may have gone on a once in 200 years spending spree with his personalised plates:

According to this page the George IV Grand Service is used at state banquets. The Grand Service is the magnificent silver-gilt dining service commissioned by George IV (1762–1830) when Prince of Wales. It is made up of over 4,000 pieces for dining and display in a vast range of styles.

Among other items, the Grand Service includes 140 dishes, 288 dinner plates, 118 salts, 12 ice pails, 58 dessert stands and centrepieces and 107 candelabra.
The Service is so large and so magnificent that it has never been replaced. It remains in use to this day and is placed on the table for State Banquets at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, as well as for other official and ceremonial events.

www.rct.uk/collection/stories/the-grand-service

Someone needs to update that webpage to say new plates have been bought!

Good spot. Had to research but that is the side plate. Here is a wider shot of the table.

I would think they redid the cypher as the RF are known to be thrifty and ditching a lot of plates doesn’t seem their style. Probably removed with a chemical, washed and then new gold applied.

"White House china - Wikipedia" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_china

The royals are very careful with China compared to the white house kitchen who must have had many a butter fingered pot washer over the centuries.

Some hideous, some flamboyant, it's an interesting read.

Thank you, @justasking111 - that's so interesting. I quite like FDR's, but Obama's is a bit too gold! I'm wondering what Melania's would have been like, had she been given the go ahead!

This article from last November explains that they have indeed removed and replaced the cypher. I don’t fancy that job!

"The Grand Service" https://www.rct.uk/collection/stories/the-grand-service

Good job they don't have to re moniker 4000 pieces of the grand service too.

@Maireassorry I can't delete this tag 😁 so you get extra flowers and thanks today! 💐😄

Someone who attended the state dinner (is that what it's called?) for the South Korean President said that the porcelain plates had VR on them so I think they must also supplement with various sets.

I forgot about all the gorgeous sugar flowers they made for that dinner! So pretty and delicate.

I like that our thread includes not just Royal Style & Beauty but also Royal Homeware & Tableware. I know we've had some chats in the past about Royal Home Interiors too, including Max's characteristically bold and colourful Huis Ten Bosch, and Princess Anne's marvellously low key sitting room!

I was thinking yesterday that if I were to choose a royal home for myself, I'd quite like Gatcombe Park. Is it available, @Maireas?

I have a feeling that @notsuchafrugalkitty has snapped up quite a few royal palaces already...

Sigh. Some people. 😁😉

I would love to get rid of a lot of my kitchen stuff and bed stuff and buy fabulous new stuff. Actually I would like to get rid and replace most stuff at home. Perhaps I just need a second home.
I wonder what crockery is like in Balmoral and Sandringham etc.

Speaking of Royal tableware, here's Fred and Mary years ago. At this time they lived at the Chancellery House in Fredensborg (which is where they're staying now as their summer residence).

I like how it's clearly very relaxed but they're still using Royal Copenhagen porcelain.They've gone for the more modern 'Mega' pattern as opposed to the grander traditional one.

@Maireas we can have palaces too? If no one has it, please may I have Blenheim Palace. I know it’s not Royal but I love it and have always wanted to do a carriage ride round the grounds.

@eggandonion I don't know about crockery but apparently during the queen's reign the cereal was served in tupperware. I think it's sweet that when they were away at their holiday home QEII did the washing up. I expect she thoroughly enjoyed feeling quite 'normal' in that respect. And loosely related, what a lovely story Theresa May told about the cheese. I always liked the photos of Prince Philip in charge of the barbecue, too!

I like the fact they have both a spoon and fork for their pudding so they don't have to use their fingers to push the food onto the spoon.

It would have to be Highgrove for me as you know Charles would’ve spared no expense in making it as comfortable as possible! Probably Clarence House too. He must be glad he can use the Buckingham palace refurbishment as an excuse not to move there. No Tupperware boxes for him!

Oh yes Highgrove is a good shout. That beautiful garden! As is Clarence House...very swish.

I haven't managed to snag a tiara but if we are going for residences as well, can I have the farm at Sandringham Prince Philip retired to?

Was there a menu for the banquet?