I'm still hunting for the notes I made. I have a sneaky suspicion that I binned them, little realising that I might need them again. After all, it was nealry a year ago that I went to BP.
I have to add that the Exhibition was an ordeal. I hate going to BP in the summer, it really is not so much a pleasure as an endurance test and the interiors of BP hold no interest for me at all. However you have to process through all the State Rooms to get to the room where they hold these exhibitions - I think it was the Ball Supper Room?
At any rate, it was mobbed, as it always is, and the hordes were sweltering on a hot Summer's day. The dresses were stunning, especially the early Hartnells and Hardy Amies form the 50's and 60's; the later stuff not so good and exhibits from her current wardrobe not really worth exhibiting.
The jewels were displayed in cases agains the walls at eye level and it was nigh on impossible to get to the front to see them without elbowing and jostling - which I most certainly did! I made myself extrememly unpopular ( no change there then I hear you all add!) by taking up position and making notes, which earned me no end of dirty looks from overheated and irritable tourists, and more than few suspicious ones from others who perhaps thought I was casing the joint!
I do recall that the accompanying jewels to the Vladimir tiara were displayed - the ladies of India necklace, with its negligee Cambridge emerald and Cullinan marquise pendants, the ensuite stud earrings, bracelet and the carved emerald brooch - all too lovely for words. I can't remember if the other brooches that used to form part of the stomacher were displayed.......I seem to recall that the lovely choker, made stylish use of and so identified with the Princess of Wales, was displayed and that its globular emeralds were mouth-watering - a really lovely delicate jewel.
It was a great exhibition, and quite possibly the only time such a large proportion of the Queen's jewellery has been displayed publicly, quite possibly also the last. Who knows what will become of this amazing collection after her passing?
