Queen Camilla arrives at the Palace of Versailles ahead of the state dinner on Sept. 20. 2023.Photo:Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Queen Camillaopted for French minimalist chic — and her late mother-in-law’s jewelry — for a glamorous night at Versailles.
“The Queen looked incredibly elegant in her caped Dior couture gown at Versailles,” Bethan Holt, fashion director at theTelegraph,tells PEOPLE, adding: “It was her doing French sophistication in her own way, and it worked beautifully.”
While the monochromatic outfit was clearly a nod to her hosts (President Emmanuel Macron’s wife, Brigitte Macron, was also in Dior), Camilla brought a little piece of home with her when it came to her jewelry: the necklace and bracelet from the King George VI Sapphire Suite, a personal favorite of Queen Elizabeth, .
Queen Camilla wearing Dior at a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles on Sept. 20, 2023.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Originally, the suite consisted of a necklace and a pair of earrings, but Queen Elizabeth later shortened the necklace and added the pendant. She also commissioned a matching bracelet, which Camilla wore for the much-anticipated black-tie event, along with a selection of her own bracelets.
Queen Camilla attends a state banquet at the Palace of Versailles on Sept. 20, 2023.Daniel Leal - Pool/Getty Images
Daniel Leal - Pool/Getty Images
“Over the past year, Queen Camilla has taken careful steps into the royal vaults, using selected pieces of jewelry that held great personal meaning for her late mother-in-law,” Lauren Kiehna ofThe Court Jeweller, tells PEOPLE. “These sapphires were particularly treasured, because they were a gift to [Elizabeth] from [her father] King George VI.”
Like the late Queen, Camilla has also made adjustments to the statement necklace. At the South African state banquet at Buckingham Palace in November 2022, the necklace appeared much shorter, but the following month at the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace, the pendant had been added and the length was longer, as per its latest outing at Versailles.
Queen Camilla, King Charles, President of France Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron arrive at the Palace of Versailles on Sept. 20, 2023.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Accessorizing with a navy satin clutch bag, Camilla turned to comfort when it came to her shoes —opting for her much-loved Sole Bliss “Carmen” heels, which features underfoot cushioning and secret support panels for extra-wide feet and painful joints. She loves the brand so much,she has 12 pairs of their shoesand often wears them on royal engagements.
Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
“Queen Elizabeth always stayed loyal to British designers and left it to her less senior relatives, like her sister Princess Margaret, to experiment with foreign couturiers — but Camilla’s approach is very modern,” says Holt, author ofThe Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style.“I admire Camilla doing regal dressing on her own terms.”
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Queen Camilla arrives at the Elysée Palace on Sept. 20, 2023.Samir Hussein/WireImage
source: people.com
