London - All Dressed Up

Wow, everything is being spruced up for the wedding. How awesome to be visiting London right now. I love all these flags everywhere. It creates such a feeling of unity and pagentry in the city.

Even Harrods is getting into the act. They have the most wonderful window displays with wedding cakes, china and dresses right now.

I've had the privilege of seeing all the troops marching and it is SPECTACULAR. Their uniforms are so inspiring. Aren't these horses BEAUTIFUL! Because the Life Guards are so close to the palace, it is not uncommon to see them practicing.

Look at Regent Street. Oh My!

I wish the big cities in America would do things like this for 4th of July. Washington D.C. could use a little bit of American Pride for special occasions as well. Wouldn't it be great to visit Washington D.C. and see this kind of display of American Flags. Nothing says Pride and Unity like the flag.

I really wish I could be there. I wouldn't mind waiting for hours along the Pall Mall to catch a glimpse of the newlyweds and to see London all dressed up!

Which Tiara Should Kate Wear?

From the left: The Duchess of Teck, the Strathmore or the Delhi Durbar.

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, also known as the Queen Mum so as not to confuse her with the current Queen, Queen Elizabeth II, is shown wearing the floral tiara given to her by her parents when she married Prince Albert.

Ancient Tiara etiquette is that you wear one for the first time on the occasion of your marriage. This is because they symbolise the loss of innocence and the crowning of love.

The Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara

This is the tiara that everyone is speculating Kate will choose. It belonged to The Queen, but she gave it as a wedding gift to her daughter-in-law, Princess Diana. This gem was commissioned from Garrard in 1913/1914 by everyone's favorite magpie, Queen Mary. She modeled it off of a tiara owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse.

Swinging pearls hang from 19 diamond arches capped with lover's knots. The piece was composed of existing jewels Queen Mary had in her collection. Originally, the design included upright pearls on top of the arches, but Mary had them removed eventually.

After Mary died in 1953, the tiara passed to Queen Elizabeth II. She wore it with some regularity in the early 1950s, but it eventually went back to storage as she narrowed down her favorite tiaras to the ones we see with regularity today.

Here both The Queen and Princess Diana are shown wearing the Cambridge Love Knot tiara.

Diana wore the Spencer Family Tiara (pictured below) with her wedding gown during the ceremony.

Spencer Family Tiara

I love to see the way this tiara sparkled and shined in the videos of the wedding. Gorgeous, stunning tiara. The Royal Family does not want Kate compared to Diana, so Kate will probably not wear this tiara. She is, after all, wearing Diana's Sapphire Diamond Ring. This is my favorite tiara.

Tradition also demands that the bride wears one from her own family's collection on her wedding day, but thereafter wears only those from her husband's family.

Being that Kate Middleton is a commoner, I doubt she has any tiaras in her family to choose from. I imagine the cost of making her one would be astronomical!

Diana's brother said that Diana had a terrible headache from wearing the tiara all day. She wasn't used to it. Maybe Kate should practice wearing her tiara around the house to prepare for the big day.

Delhi Durbar Tiara

As this tiara was recently worn by the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, we don't think it is in the running for Kate. She will want to stand out, but not be compared to others. Who knows, maybe her family will have one made especially for her!

I think Camilla pulls of this stunning tiara. It is so big, but yet it is perfect with her hair and earrings.

A tiara should never be worn at a hotel, but can be worn to dinner party when entertaining friends.

They are very difficult to place and good posture is absolutely essential to keep the tiara in place.

Queen Mary wore a tiara every night she dined n private with her husband George V.

Tiara rules of etiquette found in "The Telegraph"

Royal Mews

Yesterday, on my way home from San Francisco, I sat next to a very interesting young man. He was a former British Life Guards Cavalry soldier stationed at Buckingham Palace. He was the guy you would see on Regent Street at the Horse Guard Parade Building and Grounds.

He worked in the Royal Mews which is the Royal Stables. Under this classification he is in charge of the horses, carriages and cars. He has worked many royal and state events, most recently Price Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles wedding. He is now retired and living in the U.S.

His name was Alex and he told me many interesting facts.

The Queen's carriage is always drawn by the Windsor Grays.

The palace has two types of horses: Windsor Grays and Cleveland Bays.

Gray horses are rare. You can't just breed two grays to get a gray.

The carriages that are often seen along Rotten Row in Hyde Park are usually carrying Ambassadors.

It is tradition for Ambassadors to present their papers to the Queen.

If the carriage is all closed up and shades pulled, it is empty. I've often see them all closed up and thought someone important was in them, but no, it is just bad etiquette to have an empty carriage open.

This brings me to a new subject. The carriages have been chosen for Prince William and Kate Middeltons wedding procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.

The 1902 State Landau will carry Prince William and Kate from the abbey to the palace. This coach was used in Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding procession as well. There will be 5 coaches that day.

1st: The Bride and Groom

If they have severe rain, they will use the Glass Coach above.

Second and third carriages will be Ascot carriages carrying:

2nd: Maid of Honor and Best Man

3rd: Bridesmaids

Fourth carriage will be a Semi-State Landau carrying The Queen and Prince Phillip.

Fifth carriage will be another Semi-State Landau carrying Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall and Mr. and Mrs. Middleton.

(Notice that there is no fancy stuff on top of this one like there is on the Queen's).

Also, I wonder who will ride facing backward? Prince Charles and The Duchess are royalty, but The Middleton's are the Bride's parents and it is their big day. What is the Etiquette?

The Prince and Kate will arrive separately. Kate will arrive in Rolls Royce number 1. Which is just like this one and offers a wide glass back panel so everyone can see her. HH and I saw both of the Rolls Royces when we were in London in Oct., one actually carrying the Queen!