It’s been a long year for the royal family, with health crises and security concerns. Queen Camilla recently came out of her recuperation after missing several royal engagements due to a chest infection to welcome the Amir and Sheikha Jawaher of the State of Qatar. King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a state banquet at Buckingham Palace which saw an impressive turn up of very influential people. The event boasted about 150 guests, including former England national football team captain and ambassador of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, David Beckham and his wife Victoria.
According to the royal family’s Instagram page, the guests invited to the event were selected based on their cultural, economic and diplomatic link to the country being hosted. However, amid all the fanfare of the ceremony, Queen Camilla ended up in the headlines and not because of anything she’d said or done – but because of the dazzling tiara she chose to wear to the event.
Queen Camilla’s recent appearance at the Buckingham Palace state banquet, adorned with a historic tiara, ignited discussions across social media platforms. She chose a velvet red evening gown by Fiona Clare and wore the diamond Kokoshnik tiara that she inherited from her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II and which originally belonged to Queen Alexandra . She completed the look with a necklace which was procured from the royal collection and Family Orders representing both King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Camilla (2023), (Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)
However, the Queen’s choice of attire and jewelry did not escape criticism. Some social media users and commentators expressed disapproval for both her and her choice of jewellery for the event. The Kokoshnik diamond tiara holds so much rich history, tying the British monarch to the Romanovs and the Danish Crown. The Court Jeweller has even called it “a literal wall of diamonds” due to its structure. It is also famously known as one of Queen Elizabeth II’s most worn tiaras and many still associate it with the late monarch. So, many took to social media to blast Camilla for wearing the tiara.
“I’m sure Queen Elizabeth is screaming from her grave to take off her jewels I don’t think she was a fan of Camilla’s,” one user ranted.
Another user expressed their opinion on the choice, bitterly remarking:
“It makes me ill too see her wear this crown.”
Many other netizens chimed in with their takes on the matter, with one even calling it “an utter disgrace.” Still others came in defense of the Queen Consort, choosing to celebrate her improved health and compliment her on the stunning tiara.
“Delighted to see Her Majesty looking so well 👏” one user praised.
The Kokoshnik diamond tiara on Queen Camilla’s head also won a few hearts, with one user commenting:
“I love that The Queen Consort is wearing the Kokoshnik tiara! Suits her very well! ❤️👑🇬🇧.”
The Queen certainly had the internet divided with her look. In her own way, Camilla is certainly upholding royal traditions and the role of the monarchy in state diplomacy.
