She donned a custom navy gown, accompanied by sentimental royal jewelry. Upon their arrival at Versailles, President Macron and Emma Macron extended their greetings to the majesties before the splendid state banquet commenced in the Hall of Mirrors.
For this special occasion, Queen Camilla chose to wear the King George VI sapphire necklace, a poignant nod to the late Queen Elizabeth II. She complemented this choice with a set of matching earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace that had once belonged to her late mother-in-law.
These were among the most cherished treasures of Charles's mother, given to her by her beloved father as a wedding gift. It's worth noting that Queen Elizabeth occasionally wore the original sapphire necklace and earrings without a tiara, including at a private party celebrating the success of her golden jubilee year in 2002. In October 2015, she wore the sapphire ensemble for a state banquet in honor of the visiting President of China at Buckingham Palace.
Camilla's attire and her decision to showcase her precious sapphire collection are believed to convey a clear message to Meghan Markle. Sapphire jewelry is traditionally associated with values such as integrity, loyalty, and elegance. It also symbolizes the soul and high dignity. Queen Elizabeth II, known for her extensive collection of sapphire jewelry, often wore sapphires on various occasions.
Princess Diana, another beloved figure in the royal family, was also known for her love of sapphires. Her engagement ring, which Prince William later gave to Kate Middleton, is one of the most iconic sapphire rings in the world. However, there's reportedly only one royal who currently has sapphire jewelry from the collection—Duchess Meghan Markle.
Rumors suggest that Queen Elizabeth has barred Meghan Markle from wearing any of the sapphire jewelry from the royal collection, a decision apparently influenced by the queen's dissatisfaction with Meghan's conduct. This discretion regarding access to royal jewels lies with the queen and her trusted advisors.
Furthermore, Camilla's choice of attire was not without significance. She wore a beautiful dress from Dior, a brand that had previously declined to collaborate with Duchess Meghan. Dior promptly shared images of Queen Camilla wearing their design on their social media accounts, seemingly indicating their preference to work with established royals.
Camilla's gown featured silk fabric with intricate braided detailing around the waist and torso. The elegant floor-length design was accentuated by a cape-style overlay, which elegantly covered most of the queen's skin. A soft V-neckline displayed the Queen's King George VI necklace, adorned with diamonds and striking sapphire gems. Her radiant appearance was enhanced by a bronze makeup look, which beautifully contrasted with her white-blond hair.
