The Royal Dispatch
Festive royals and some incredible tiara moments
Happy Sunday, Royal Clubbers, it’s Millie here with your new edition of The Royal Dispatch. If you missed the last one, you can catch up here.
We’ve had a festive royal week with Princess Catherine’s carol concert kickstarting the Christmas period. Queen Camilla had some little helpers to decorate the tree at Clarence House, while royals in Europe took the opportunity to bring out their tiaras.
Before we go into the royal pictures of the week, it’s time for some royal history.
From Nero to hero?
On this day in royal history, 15 December 37CE, Emperor Nero was born.
His name is synonymous with brutality and cruelty – Roman historians reported that the emperor killed his second wife by kicking her pregnant belly, that he tried several times to murder his mother before eventually succeeding, and that he used the burning down of a palace as an excuse to torture and murder scores of Christians.
Or did he?
There are many modern-day scholars and historians who believe Nero was greatly misrepresented by his contemporaries. It’s generally accepted he had his mother killed, possibly to appease the Senate, and that he scapegoated the Christians – but there are those who argue that the real Nero was far more complex than the tyrannical ruler of popular belief.
Perhaps all Nero needed was for someone to show him love in the shape of a thoughtful gift? I guess buying presents for emperors is a stressful business but then buying them for family can also be pretty trying! If you’re feeling the gift-giving pressure in the run up to Christmas, help is at hand in the shape of our royal-inspired Christmas gift guide which you can peruse here.
Best Royal Pictures of the Week
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands
A moment is needed for this absolutely stunning ruby tiara worn by Queen Maxima at the state banquet for the Portuguese president on Tuesday. The earrings, necklace and headpiece all date back to 1888, and were originally a gift from King Willem III to Queen Emma.
The Queen also attended a Christmas Music Gala, ringing in some festive cheer.
Prince William
The Prince got hands-on this week as he passed out Christmas presents to the families of serving soldiers in the Mercian regiment as part of his work as Colonel-in-Chief.
Princess Sofia of Sweden
The pregnant Princess glowed during the Nobel Banquet after the awards ceremony on Tuesday. Her sparkling tiara was given to her by King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia as a wedding present in 2015.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
The Crown Princess of Sweden wore the Baden Fringe tiara to the Nobel Banquet, featuring 47 diamond sunrays in a kokoshnik-style headpiece. Her beautiful purple ballgown was a showstopper!
Queen Camilla
Queen Camilla certainly brought the festive cheer this week as she made time to meet Father Christmas as part of her work with the charities Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity.
The Queen also urged nearby viewers to ‘hold onto your hair’ as she poured brandy over a Christmas pudding for a festive lunch at the Amadeus on Tuesday.
Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands
The Dutch Princess looked resplendent in her shimmering evening gown and striking tiara as she joined her family at the state banquet, just days after celebrating her 21st birthday. The tiara, made of five ten-pointed stars, also originally belonged to Queen Emma of The Netherlands, who died in 1934.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden
The final tiara of the week was worn at the Nobel Banquet by Princess Madeleine, who donned the Connaught Diamond Tiara, first owned by Princess Margaret who received the headpiece as a wedding gift from her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught in 1905.