Queen Elizabeth II meets Pope Francis for the first time on 3 April 2014 on a visit that coincides with the anniversary of the start of the Falklands War between Britain and Argentina. Previously, Elizabeth II had met with four Pontiffs, starting with Pius XII in 1951, a year before her accession to the throne. The queen has visited the Vatican twice during her reign, once to meet John XXIII in 1961 and again in 2000 to see John Paul II, and met Benedict XVI in Britain, during his Apostolic Visit in September 2010.
Pope Francis presented the Queen with apriceless gift for Prince George at the Vatican. The orb made from lapis lazuli semi-precious stone featuring a silver cross of St Edward the Confessor was given to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to pass on to her heir. This was accompanied by a manuscript dating back to 1679 proclaiming the saint day of Edward the Confessor. The Pope explained “it’s for the little boy” as he handed the gifts over. The ornament – made especially for the occasion – featured an inscription saying: “From Pope Francis to Prince George of Cambridge.” Prince Philip was delighted with his gift from the Pope – three gold medals bearing the Pontiff’s face. He joked: “That’s very kind of you, that’s the only gold medal I have ever won.” In a friendly exchange they presented two signed pictures of themselves in silver frames and a hamper of goodies from the Royal Estates.
The official portrait for the christening of Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, photographed in The Morning Room at Clarence House in London, 23 October 2013. PICTURED: (back, left-right) HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince of Wales, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, HRH Prince Harry of Wales; (front, left-right) HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH Duchess of Cambridge carrying HRH Prince George with HRH Duke of Cambridge. Prince George is wearing an outfit made of delicate Honiton lace and white satin by Angela Kelly, an exact replica of the one worn before him by every baby born to the British Royal family since 1841. The Duchess is wearing Alexander McQueen dress and a Jane Taylor hat. Photo by Jason Bell.
The Queen approved a new conjugal coat of arms for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Designed by the College of Arms in London, conjugal arms traditionally combine the separate shields of a royal husband and wife. Continue reading →
The new Queen waves from the balcony, next to Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Philip, and the Queen Mother Elizabeth (Source: Daily Mail)
This summer marks the 60th anniversary of one of the most momentous occasions in 20th-century, the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The Coronation took place in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. It was a solemn ceremony conducted by Dr Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury. The ceremony was broadcast on radio around the world and, at The Queen’s request, on television for the first time. An estimated 3 million people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the new Queen, at Buckingham Palace.
To mark the anniversary of the event, a major exhibition for the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace will bring together for the first time since Coronation Day, a spectacular array of dress, uniform and robes worn by the principal royal party. Works of art, paintings and objects used on the day will also be on display to recreate the atmosphere of that extraordinary occasion.
The exhibition (27 July-29 September 2013) reveals some of the most beautiful and expertly designed dresses and robes ever made, detailing their ownership and history, and this extensive collection is the first time these items have brought together since the coronation itself.
Coronation Pen. Creator: Francis J.C. Cooper (designer). Provenance: Presented to Queen Elizabeth II by the Worshipful Company of Scriveners, for use at the coronation of 1953
Gold-mounted, enamelled and jewelled ivory pen, used by The Queen at the Coronation in 1953. The pen is in the form of an ivory quill, with a gold central vane and nib; a representation of the Sword of State – which is borne before the Sovereign as she proceeds to the altar to sign the Coronation oath – forms the rib of the quill. Over this is placed a jewelled and enamelled crown supported by two cherubs (representing Prince Charles and Princess Anne). On either side of the sword’s hilt are the letters E.R. The shaft is applied with the coat of arms and motto of the Scriveners’ Company (Litera Scripta Manet – ‘The written word remains’), and enamelled red and white roses. The back of the pen carries a presentation inscription, ‘To Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Presented by the Company of Scriveners. Coronation Day 1953.’ (Source Royal Collection)
The theme design of my new website is much more propitious for my writing, aims and purposes.
For those of you who have subscribed to my old site royalromania.wordpress.com, you should consider subscribing to this new one.
All my old articles and images are also contained within the new site, so you should not have any problems in accessing them there. For one month I will post simultaneously, in order to avoid confusions and allow for a smooth transition, my forthcoming articles and images on both sites. After that date http://dianamandache.com/ will become my sole active website.
The first official painted portrait of The Duchess of Cambridge has been commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, where it is unveiled today Friday 11 January 2013. Continue reading →
Queen Elizabeth II with producer John McAndrew and director John Bennett (R) watch the recording of her Christmas message to the Commonwealth which is to be broadcast in 3D for the first in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace on December 7, 2012. Continue reading →
Prime Minister David Cameron greets HM Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II makes historic visit to 10 Downing Street and sits with Prime Minister David Cameron at the UK government weekly cabinet meeting, 18 December, 2012.
Marie of Edinburgh in her first Romanian peasant costume (Diana Mandache Collection)
Princess Marie in her first Romanian peasant costume (from the Arges ethnographic region) given to her by King Carol as a wedding gift. Romanian peasant dress was introduced for court festivities and ceremonies by Queen Elizabeth. The peasants were identified in the national ideology as the quintessential Romanians and many among the Romanian elite started in that period to follow the court’s example and express their national identity by wearing peasant attire when participating at national events and other festivities. Princess Marie from the very beginning wrote to her mother: «The other day there was a charity ball here, and everybody came in Romanian costumes, it looked so pretty».
[see D.M, 'Marie of Romania. Images of a Queen', RRB, 2007, p.16] Continue reading →
