The Royal Dispatch
The Royal Dispatch
Prince William in South Africa and a last-minute replacement for Queen Camilla
Happy Sunday, Royal Clubbers, it’s Millie here. Welcome back to the latest edition of The Royal Dispatch. If you missed the last one, you can read it here.
It’s all about Prince William this week as the heir to the throne made a special trip to Cape Town in South Africa for the Earthshot Awards. There were plenty of memorable moments, including Princess Charlotte’s sweet gift to her father for his trip away.
If you’re a full subscriber, don’t forget to catch up on our reporter Danielle’s video diaries from her time accompanying the Prince of Wales in South Africa.
Video diary one: Prince William gets rugby tackled
Video diary two: A meet up with Robert Irwin
Video diary three: Danielle on the green carpet
Video diary four: William reunites with an old ‘friend’
Before we jump into the royal pictures of the week, it’s time for some royal history.
On this day in royal history, 10 November 1958, the Hope Diamond was donated to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC.
The diamond was first acquired by King Louis XIV, who purchased the rare and beautiful blue gem from an explorer who had recently undergone a trip to India.
At that point, February 1969, the diamond, or ‘French Blue’ weighed 115 carats, although the King ordered it cut down, most likely due to a different preference in cut. The recutting took two years.
While the diamond stayed within the French royal family for years, when King Louis XVI and Marie Antionette were deposed, the French Crown Jewels were seized by revolutionaries.
They were then put on display and, unbelievably, in 1792, several thieves broke into the storehouse and made off with some of the jewels, leaving no trace. It was 20 years before the diamond resurfaced in London.
It wasn’t recognised as the ‘French Blue’ that had gone missing two decades before until many years later, as it had been cut down again and called the Hope Diamond.
It passed from hand to hand until Harry Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institute. It was posted in a plain brown package by registered mail, and insured for one million dollars.
Take a look at the highlights from the week below and scroll to the end for next week’s royal diary…