24 July 2010

Buckingham Palace's 2010 Exhibition

If you are in London this summer, make sure to pay a visit to Buckingham Palace where they are throwing open the doors to let the sun shine in on the magic. In addition to seeing state rooms and the royal mews (stables/garage), you can also see a special exhibition called "The Queen's Year."

Members of the Household Cavalry stand to attention as they wait for Britain's Queen Elizabeth to leave Buckingham Palace to attend the State Opening of Parliament in London May 25, 2010. The new British coalition government set out its legislative agenda on Tuesday in a speech delivered by Queen Elizabeth at the state opening of parliament. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT POLITICS ROYALS MILITARY)


The palace will be open July 27 through Sept. 29 while the queen is on holiday, taking a cruise with her family and then making her annual visit to Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Tours start at 17 pounds (about $26 U.S.). For ticket information, visit http://golondon.about.com/od/thingstodoinlondon/ss/buckinghampal_4.htm

Here's a sneak peak of what you'll see:

Britain's Queen Elizabeth's Cap of Maintenance, used at the State Opening of Parliament is displayed at Buckingham Palace in London July 23, 2010. The cap is part of an exhibition entitled The Queen's Year for the Summer Opening of a Buckingham Palace exhibition which runs from July 27-October 1. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: ROYALS SOCIETY)

The cap of maintenance is also on display. It is used every year at the Opening of Parliament ceremony. Compared to the U.S. Congress, the Opening of Parliament is a much more tradition-laden event where even the history of opposition to the crown is ceremoniously preserved. After the Queen arrives in the House of Lords, the man known as the "Black Rod" is sent to summon the members of the House of Commons only to have them slam the door in his face. He has to knock three times before they open the door to him. Then, in stark contrast to the Lords, who serenely filed in wearing robes and coronets, the MPs shamble over in a disorderly mob, further signifying that they don't "bow" to the Lords. Then, the Queen reads a speech prepared for her by the Prime Minister.


A curator poses for photographs with a collection of hats worn to Royal Ascot by Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at Buckingham Palace in London July 23, 2010. The hats form part of an exhibition entitled The Queen's Year for the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace exhibition which runs from July 27-October 1. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: ROYALS FASHION SOCIETY)

Probably one of the most fun parts of this year's exhibition is this wall of hats worn by the Queen to Royal Ascot. Try not looking at the curatorial information and just guessing which hats were worn in which decade. As a petite person who needs to stand out in a crowd, the queen usually chooses large and or brightly colored hats. She is also usually careful to make sure that they don't obscure her face. She's motivated by politeness rather than vanity--she realizes that many people wait a long time to catch a glimpse of her and she doesn't want to disappoint them. Although hats are less popular elsewhere in the world, they are still common among the British upper crust, but women of all classes wear hats for Ascot and, on ladies day, the more outrageous the hat, the more likely you'll be to get your picture in the paper.


The Grand Duchess Vladimir tiara from 1890 is displayed at Buckingham Palace in London July 23, 2010. The tiara forms part of an exhibition entitled The Queen's Year for the Summer Opening of a Buckingham Palace exhibition which runs from July 27-October 1. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett (BRITAIN - Tags: ROYALS SOCIETY)


circa 1926:  Queen Mary (1867-1953), wife of George V, the King of England.  (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Known as the Vladimir tiara, this magnificent piece was purchased by the Queen's grandmother, Queen Mary, in 1921 from Princess Nicholas of Greece (Prince Philip's aunt) after it had been smuggled out of revolutionary Russia. Grand Duchess Vladimir, born Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was married to the last tsar's uncle. She died and left the tiara to her daughter Helen, wife of Prince Nicholas. There is a photo of Marie wearing the tiara on her Wikipedia profile.

As a huge jewelry collector, Queen Mary was more than happy to help out refugee royals following World War I by acquiring their jewels. She had the Vladimir tiara reconfigured to accommodate emerald drops. This is just one of the magnificent pieces Queen Elizabeth II inherited from her beloved grandmother. (Incidentally, Queen Mary also had a reputation for admiring objects that she expected the hostess, friend or relative to then present to her as a gift. Her mother-in-law, Queen Alexandra, was less than fond of this little habit and sometimes joked that people should hide away their valuables whenever Mary was coming to visit.)

Queen Elizabeth II watching attending the premiere performance of the film 'Born Free'.   (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Since Mary's death in 1953, the Queen has regularly worn the Vladimir tiara, choosing it for many portraits. She frequently wears it with the pearls, sometimes with the emeralds and occasionally without any drops at all.
LONDON - JULY 25:  Queen Elizabeth II's Vladimir Tiara is displayed at Buckingham Palace on July 25, 2006 in London. Celebrating the Queen's 80th birthday, the largest ever exhibition of 80 gowns and jewellery from the 1940's to the present day, worn by her majesty on private and official engagements, will go on show to the public in the State Rooms during the summer opening of the palace.  (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

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