The Duke and Duchess of Connaught with their children and Gustaf Adolf, Crown Prince of Sweden 22 Jun 1911
The Duchess wore the Order of Victoria and Albert on the white sash to King George V's coronation in 1911. It is apparent in a few photographs of her in the Royal Box on the RCT site.
Duchess of Connaught on left of royal box (2nd Row)
A group photograph of the Connaught family in their 1911 coronation robes and attire is on the RCT site.
I've always found it a fascinating image. Princess Patricia is wearing her sister's tiara that was a wedding present from the Khedive. Crown Princess Margaret is wearing her the Swedish (now Norwegian) Emerald tiara and necklace, and her orders are the Crown of India, V.A. 2nd class and her father in law's Swedish jewelled portrait on the serafimerorden bow. The Duchess wears the stunning trefoil tiara (what happened to it after her death?) and Queen Victoria's turkish diamonds necklace. Don't get me started on the men's orders and mantles! It was indeed "La Belle Époque".
An individual portrait of HRH The Duchess of Connaught in her coronation robes and finery also exists. See...
https://www.gogmsite.net/the-bustle-eras-1870-1890/subalbum-luise-margaret-of-/1911-princess-louise-margar-3.html
A beautiful signed copy, in a frame with the Duchess's coronet and cypher, was recently offered for auction. Beside the V.A. she wears the Edward VII family order, the Crown of India and the new Family Order of King George V.
Was this the last time that the first class of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert was worn on a sash? I've not been able to track down any photos of the Duchess at the opening of the Canadian Parliament during her husband's term as Governor General. (Do any of you know of any such images?)
After the Great War, the royal ladies were gradually starting to wear the new Order of the British Empire as their broad riband sash, and then women were admitted to the Royal Victorian Order from 1936, so some wore that Riband.
I find it ironic that while the Duchess of Connaught is best know for wearing the white sash, her daughter Princess Patricia/Lady Patricia Ramsey only wore one riband, the black sash of the Order of St John. She was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Order in 1934 and wore it to the 1937 and 1953 Coronations.
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