Strict Dress Code for Sandringham Visit
Tanya Rose, founder of travel PR firm Mason Rose, revealed details of her visit to Sandringham in 1979 after being invited by her school friend Prince Edward. Speaking on Amanda Wakeley's Style DNA podcast, she described the strict dress code she had to adhere to during her four-day stay.
Rose said: “I needed four long dresses, four outfits for breakfast, four outfits for tea, shooting things, Barbour, Wellington boots.” She and her parents had to buy new clothes as she had nothing appropriate. Her mother lent her a pearl necklace from Fenwick's, which she passed off as a family heirloom when asked by the Queen Mother.
Nervous but Put at Ease by the Queen
Rose was the only non-family member during the stay. She recalled being terrified the first night when the women separated from the men. The late Queen Elizabeth helped calm her nerves by doing impressions of her groom. Rose said: “The Queen was so divine because she knew I was nervous. I was absolutely terrified, so she started doing impressions of her groom, and just being so sweet to me. She was lovely.”
Embarrassing Moment with Prince Charles
Despite the Queen's kindness, Rose had an awkward moment during dinner. Seated between Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh, she mistook a salt cellar for sugar and put salt in her coffee. Prince Charles remarked, “What an extraordinary thing to do,” and pointed out her mistake.
