Royal News and Views

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On This Day

Posted by Karen on February 14, 2025, 12:07 pm

1901 - King Edward VII accompanied Queen Alexandra, attended his first State Opening of Parliament as Sovereign. They were still in mourning for Queen Victoria.

Re: On This Day

Posted by karenl on February 14, 2025, 8:47 pm, in reply to "On This Day"

Despite being in mourning Queen Alexandra brought out the dazzling jewels and the small diamond crown.

Re: On This Day

Posted by Hollie24 on February 14, 2025, 9:01 pm, in reply to "Re: On This Day"

Most women would have gone without the jewels. Not Alexandra! She's wearing her bow brooches down the front of her skirt and she arranged them that way on her Coronation dress. I read that Edward made her go back and rearrange her jewels when he saw she was wearing the Garter Star and sash incorrectly (she claimed wearing them the correct way interfered with the rest of her gems).

(no subject)

Posted by Hollie24 on February 14, 2025, 9:11 pm, in reply to "Re: On This Day"

I am not sure both photos were taken the same day. There are distinct differences in Alexandra's jewels and the collar of her robe between the two photos.

Re: (no subject)

Posted by Karen on February 15, 2025, 7:23 am, in reply to "(no subject)"

I agree, I think the photos were taken on seperate days.

Two different occasions

Posted by Nellie on February 15, 2025, 12:04 am, in reply to "On This Day"

These "portraits" are notorious for being confounding.
The second is most likely the correct one for their first parliament but does not seem to be precisely the same as my ILN pic below.
I cannot see that long rope of pearls.
Alexandra is wearing Cullinans I and II which were not yet set in the regalia.
And over the years the Royal Collection site has been confused also.

Re: Two different occasions

Posted by Nellie on February 15, 2025, 12:26 am, in reply to "Two different occasions"

Cullinans ! and II had been given to Edward VII and he bought Cullinan VI for Alexandra - which I think we can see is pendant to her colier résille.

Re: Two different occasions

Posted by Hollie24 on February 15, 2025, 12:53 am, in reply to "Two different occasions"

Yes, as I posted, I thought these were two different occasions. Alexandra's dresses, jewelry, and veils are different in each photo.

Re: Two different occasions

Posted by karenl on February 15, 2025, 1:33 am, in reply to "Re: Two different occasions"

I love in both photos that Alexandra wears the small diamond crown and the "waterfall" as I call it, of the diamond bow brooches and diamond necklaces cascading down her skirt. The first time I viewed that on the Royal Jewels Board, I thought that was such a stroke of genius and it's beautiful.
Alexandra and then her daughter-in-law Queen Mary loved jewels, but were creative with jewel designs and creations.

Re: Two different occasions

Posted by Hollie24 on February 15, 2025, 2:04 am, in reply to "Re: Two different occasions"

I think I figured out the confusion with the two photos. When Victoria died, the Court went into full mourning for a year. After that, there was half mourning, ending before the original date for Edward's Coronation. Edward and Alexandra attended their first State Opening of Parliament in February 1901. That's the top photo where Alexandra's dress is fairly plain, she has a black veil, and she's not wearing *quite* so many jewels.

The second photo is of the State Opening of Parliament in January 1902, right after the Court ended full mourning and went into half mourning. That's why Alexandra is wearing a lot more jewels, her veil is white, and her dress is more glamorous.

I'm pretty sure I'm right about this...

Re: Two different occasions - corrections

Posted by Nellie on February 15, 2025, 3:03 am, in reply to "Re: Two different occasions"

Yes - the top pic in the opening post is most likely for their first parliament.

However, I was quite wrong about the pic where Alexandra wears Cullinans I and II - in the bottom pic in the opening post of this thread. The Cullinan was split in February 1908.
That pic was at their last parliament on 22 Feb 1910. Edward died in May 1910.

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