Queen Elizabeth Attends State Opening of Parliament in Day Dress and Hat

Queen Elizabeth made her first appearance in London since November to attend the State Opening of Parliament.

In a departure from tradition, she chose to wear a day dress and hat instead of ceremonial robes and a crown.

This marked the first major event the Queen has taken on since the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, last month.

The Queen's outfit consisted of a pale blue-grey coat adorned with yellow floral embroidery around the collar.

To accessorize her spring coat, she wore a pair of diamond and aquamarine brooches.

These exquisite pieces were gifted to her by her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later known as the Queen Mother), on her 18th birthday in April 1944.

The Art Deco design, featuring aquamarines and diamonds, was popularized by Cartier but made by Boucheron, according to the Royal Collection.

Typically, the brooches can be worn together to form a large oval shape.

However, Her Majesty prefers to wear them separately as diagonals, which is how they were positioned on her dress coat during the event.

The Queen was last seen wearing these brooches during her VE Day address to the nation last year amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

She has also worn them on previous occasions, such as a visit to the Netherlands in 1958, Malta in 2005, and Ireland in 2013.

Due to the translucent nature of the jewels, the Queen often pairs them with blue or pale purple fabrics to enhance their natural color.

For this year's state opening, the Queen opted for a blue-grey coat with yellow floral embroidery around the neckline.

She wore it over a silver dress with matching gold floral detailing.

Completing her ensemble, she wore her three-string pearl necklace and diamond and pearl drop earrings, which she also wore to Prince Philip's funeral.

To top off her look, the Queen donned a purple and gold hat adorned with floral and feather applique.

This hat was previously seen at Royal Ascot in 2019.

Notably, the Queen sat alone during the state opening, as the consort's throne was removed from the ceremony for the first time in 120 years.

Fashion journalist Claudia Joseph remarked that the Queen was impeccably dressed for the occasion, as always.

Despite not wearing her ceremonial robes, she looked charming in pastel blue.

Joseph noted that the Queen often chooses colors that stand out and hats that showcase her face.

The choice of pale blue was particularly fitting during a time of turmoil for both the royal family and the country.

Royal Central, a news outlet focusing on royal matters, highlighted that grey is a color associated with half-mourning.

Style writer Amber Grafland commented on the Queen's jewelry accessories, praising her for wearing the brooches.

These Art Deco-style boucheron aquamarine and diamond clip brooches can be worn in various formations.

Grafland suggested that the Queen used her jewelry to convey a message, indicating that she is still mourning Prince Philip and keeping his memory close.

In conclusion, Queen Elizabeth made a notable appearance at the State Opening of Parliament, opting for a day dress and hat instead of traditional ceremonial attire.