Anyone familiar with Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family has no doubt observed their vast and brilliant collection of jewelry. When the Queen is out and about during one of her public appearances, her tiara, and other bejeweled adornments manage to stay as radiant as ever. She has amassed a vast collection of tiaras throughout her reign, including some made by Garrard in the 1800s.
The headdress that is most frequently worn by the Queen is the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, which was gifted to her by her grandmother, Queen Mary, as a wedding present. It is the piece that is found on British currency and the first-ever tiara that Queen Elizabeth has owned. One has to wonder at how these vintage diamonds and jewels on each tiara are kept clean and sparkling. Thanks to the recent release of the novel by the longtime royal hairdresser and stylist, Angela Kelly, the secret to the radiance of each piece has been revealed.
During an interview with The Daily Mail's Rebecca English, Kelly discusses her new book, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe as well as how the characteristic sparkle of the Queen's diamond tiara is achieved. "Gin and water are handy for giving the royal diamonds a little extra sparkle," said Kelly. In addition to the initial spritz of Gin, the dresser also suggested some liquid detergent if there is ever a need for it.
Kelly's book is a wondrous tell-all, detailing how Queen Elizabeth maintains a frugal attitude and opts for the deals of "bargain bucket" clothing. When it comes to photoshoots, Kelly says that the Queen's movements during such an event seem to be second nature. "Her Majesty took her position in front of the lens and started striking a series of poses, slipping her hands in and out of her pockets and placing them on to her hips, mimicking the stance of a professional model. I stood in disbelief, the queen was a natural," said Kelly.
The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe is wholly endorsed by Queen Elizabeth II and can be purchased on Amazon and other online retailers.
Information originally sourced from Harpers Bazaar.
