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Queen Alexandra. Jewels and dresses for State Opening of Parliament
Posted by Beth on February 23, 2020, 4:36 pm
A recent discussion on RJWMB prompted me to look at various pieces of information I have on what jewels (and the colour of HM's dresses) were worn by Queen Alexandra to the State Opening of Parliament over the reign of Edward VII.
From what I can ascertain Queen Alexandra wore a black dress and Queen Victoria's small diamond crown on each occasion she attended the State Opening of Parliament. She did not attend the Opening of Parliament in 1906 as her father, King Christian, had recently died.
It is less easy to determine what other jewels Queen Alexandra wore, although her long ropes of pearls seem to have been worn frequently.
Identification of HM's jewels is sometimes difficult because the press often just said she glittered with diamonds. The second issue limiting identification is that the King and Queen were photographed only in 1901 and 1910.
Some other important jewels worn were the Koh-i-noor in the brooch setting and in 1909 and 1910 Queen Alexandra wore Cullinan I and Cullinan II as a pendant brooch in the centre of her bodice.
1901
All the Court was in deep mourning for Queen Victoria. The press noted that Queen Alexandra wore crape, a dull,lusterless material characteristically used in Victorian mourning.
Notable jewels were Queen Victoria's small diamond crown, the koh-i-noor in the brooch setting, Queen Victoria's Fringe brooch and Queen Adelaide's brooch, Queen Victoria's bow brooches and the pearls we refer to as the Indian pearls. (This is the 4 strand necklace at HM's neckline.)
1902
Jewels were the small diamond crown. This time HM wore a glittering black dress.
This report was adamant that Queen Alexandra wore a "high" gown, not a low cut court gown.
This report mentions pearls and I suspect a choker formed of strands of diamonds.
A sketch
1903
Black dress and Queen Victoria's small diamond crown.
Sketches
1904
Black gown and Queen Victoria's small diamond crown. She obviously wore a pearl dog collar and then a diamond necklace.
This report says HM's dress seemed dark blue
Sketch
1905
Black dress and Queen Victoria's small diamond crown, and possibly the Cartier collier resille.
Sketch. The accompanying caption said dress was dark.
1906
Queen Alexandra did not attend the State Opening of Parliament in 1906 as she was in Denmark following her father's death. The Court was officially in mourning and so the peeresses all wore black gowns.
1907
I don't have a press description of HM's clothes for 1907 but the sketch below suggests that she was dressed in a dark (if not black) gown and wore Queen Victoria's small diamond crown.
1908
Queen Alexandra wore a black gown and Queen Victoria's small diamond crown.
Sketches
1909
Queen Alexandra wore black, Queen Victoria's small diamond crown and significantly Cullinan I and Cullinan II as a pendant brooch. As far as I know there is no photograph of Queen Alexandra showing the Cullinans on this occasion.
The first report comes from The Times
This is the only photo I have seen of Queen Alexandra from the occasion. Sadly her jewels are not visible.
Sketches
1910
The last State Opening of Parliament for Queen Alexandra.
She wore a black gown, Queen Victoria's small diamond crown, the Cullinans, the Koh-i-noor in its brooch setting, and the Cartier collier resille.
One newspaper predicted the dress would be a dull black as HM was in mourning for her brother.
However, the dress was later suggested a gown which sparkled.
On this occasion King Edward and Queen Alexandra were photographed, so that we can easily identify her magnificent jewels.
A number of papers published photographs for all to share in the sight.
Re: Queen Alexandra. Jewels and dresses for State Opening of Parliament
An interesting background check Beth. I never before realized the sizable diamonds strewn onto QA's skirt and wondered if these colliers are the sets of colliers worn by her predecessor QM around her neckline. And what of the necklace mentioned of the deep collar necklace of immense single stones and a reported Russian shaped necklace of equally large stones reaching almost to her waist line, 'this is a quota from Beth's 11th newspaper clipping. The diamonds are very large.
Regards,
Dave.
Previous Message
A recent discussion on RJWMB prompted me to look at various pieces of information I have on what jewels (and the colour of HM's dresses) were worn by Queen Alexandra to the State Opening of Parliament over the reign of Edward VII.
From what I can ascertain Queen Alexandra wore a black dress and Queen Victoria's small diamond crown on each occasion she attended the State Opening of Parliament. She did not attend the Opening of Parliament in 1906 as her father, King Christian, had recently died.
It is less easy to determine what other jewels Queen Alexandra wore, although her long ropes of pearls seem to have been worn frequently.
Identification of HM's jewels is sometimes difficult because the press often just said she glittered with diamonds. The second issue limiting identification is that the King and Queen were photographed only in 1901 and 1910.
Some other important jewels worn were the Koh-i-noor in the brooch setting and in 1909 and 1910 Queen Alexandra wore Cullinan I and Cullinan II as a pendant brooch in the centre of her bodice.
1901
All the Court was in deep mourning for Queen Victoria. The press noted that Queen Alexandra wore crape, a dull,lusterless material characteristically used in Victorian mourning.
Notable jewels were Queen Victoria's small diamond crown, the koh-i-noor in the brooch setting, Queen Victoria's Fringe brooch and Queen Adelaide's brooch, Queen Victoria's bow brooches and the pearls we refer to as the Indian pearls. (This is the 4 strand necklace at HM's neckline.)
1902
Jewels were the small diamond crown. This time HM wore a glittering black dress.
This report was adamant that Queen Alexandra wore a "high" gown, not a low cut court gown.
This report mentions pearls and I suspect a choker formed of strands of diamonds.
A sketch
1903
Black dress and Queen Victoria's small diamond crown.
Sketches
1904
Black gown and Queen Victoria's small diamond crown. She obviously wore a pearl dog collar and then a diamond necklace.
This report says HM's dress seemed dark blue
Sketch
1905
Black dress and Queen Victoria's small diamond crown, and possibly the Cartier collier resille.
Sketch. The accompanying caption said dress was dark.
1906
Queen Alexandra did not attend the State Opening of Parliament in 1906 as she was in Denmark following her father's death. The Court was officially in mourning and so the peeresses all wore black gowns.
1907
I don't have a press description of HM's clothes for 1907 but the sketch below suggests that she was dressed in a dark (if not black) gown and wore Queen Victoria's small diamond crown.
1908
Queen Alexandra wore a black gown and Queen Victoria's small diamond crown.
Sketches
1909
Queen Alexandra wore black, Queen Victoria's small diamond crown and significantly Cullinan I and Cullinan II as a pendant brooch . As far as I know there is no photograph of Queen Alexandra showing the Cullinans on this occasion.
The first report comes from The Times
This is the only photo I have seen of Queen Alexandra from the occasion. Sadly her jewels are not visible.
Sketches
1910
The last State Opening of Parliament for Queen Alexandra.
She wore a black gown, Queen Victoria's small diamond crown, the Cullinans, the Koh-i-noor in its brooch setting, and the Cartier collier resille.
One newspaper predicted the dress would be a dull black as HM was in mourning for her brother.
However, the dress was later suggested a gown which sparkled.
On this occasion King Edward and Queen Alexandra were photographed, so that we can easily identify her magnificent jewels.
A number of papers published photographs for all to share in the sight.
Re: Queen Alexandra. Jewels and dresses for State Opening of Parliament
Since all the images in between the photographs except the one where she is dressed in white, seem to show her wearing the tasselled pearl necklace I wonder if they are using the first photo as inspiration and just copying it as it was detailed, and the rest was done like a courtroom sketch from life.