Jewellery

Camilla, Queen Consort, wore Queen Elizabeth’s George VI Sapphire tiara to her first state banquet

For her first state banquet as reigning monarch for President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa, Camilla, Queen Consort, wore the late Queen Elizabeth II's George VI Sapphire tiara

By Joshua Hendren

Camilla, Queen Consort, made her state banquet debut last night in a suite of sapphires that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II.

Joining King Charles III at the glamorous event, held in honour of the visiting South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, Camilla opted for Her late Majesty’s George VI Sapphire tiara, commissioned by the Queen in 1963.

Camilla, Queen Consort during a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in London on November 22, 2022 (Photo by CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Made from an antique sapphire and diamond necklace that belonged to Princess Louise of Belgium, the tiara added to an existing set, a necklace and a matching pair of earrings (both as seen on Queen Camilla) which were wedding gifts from her father, King George VI, in 1947. For last night’s event, the Queen Consort removed the diamond and sapphire pendant drop to wear the piece as a choker, as she typically prefers.

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the George VI sapphire tiara
Queen Elizabeth II wearing the King George VI sapphire and diamond tiara (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

The late Queen had previously worn the topper for two consecutive state banquets, in 2015 for President Xi Jinping of China and for President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia in 2016. The suite’s last appearance on Her Majesty came in 2020, when she wore the sapphires for her new Canadian portrait, which marked the last time Queen Elizabeth was photographed wearing a tiara.

Camilla, Queen Consort, wearing the George VI sapphire tiara
Camilla, Queen Consort and King Charles III during the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on November 22, 2022 in London (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Camilla, Queen Consort, wearing the George VI sapphire tiara
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor and Britain’s Camilla, Queen Consort attend a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in London on November 22, 2022 (Photo by Victoria Jones / POOL / AFP) (Photo by VICTORIA JONES/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

To further elevate her showstopping jewels, Camilla donned a royal blue sash as well as the Royal Family Order, made up of a portrait of the late Queen on a yellow ribbon, alongside other female members of the Royal Family.

Like this? Here’s the details on the Princess of Wales’ brooch displaying a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II