The Queen wrapped up her diplomatic dressing endeavours with an homage to a famous American brand this afternoon. Camilla, 78, accessorised her cobalt blue dress with a flower-shaped brooch from luxury jeweller Tiffany & Co, as she and the King said goodbye to Donald and Melania Trump on the last day of their landmark US state visit.
Her clasp, a stunning vintage piece made from 18k yellow gold and adorned with diamonds and rubies - the Queen's birthstone - was first gifted to Charles's wife by the United States president and First Lady when they visited the UK in September. And showing that gifts between both nations are appreciated, Camilla proudly wore it during the farewell ceremony at the White House on Thursday.
She accentuated the look with cobalt Sole Bliss heels and kept other accessories to a minimum. Experts estimate that the antique brooch is from the 1950s or 1970s due to its 'mid-20th-century style'. Speaking to WWD, jeweller Maxwell Stone shared: 'The brooch is a floral-inspired design, featuring layered gold leaves radiating outward. At its centre, there are four rubies surrounding a central diamond, forming a striking cluster. The piece has a textured, almost sculptural quality to the gold, which gives depth and dimension to the leaves.'
According to Town & Country, it is estimated to be worth more than £30,000. The outlet also shared that Camilla received yet another Tiffany & Co package during this visit - this time, silver teaspoons which were engraved with her royal monogram. The couples officially parted ways ahead of the royals' journey to West Virginia - where they will conclude their trip across the pond - after they spent the day in New York yesterday.
Diplomatic Significance
It was the final of five meetings between King Charles and President Trump, who has made no secret of his admiration for the British Head of State. While diplomats are under no illusion of the fluid nature of the US leader's affections - British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is most definitely on the 'naughty step' - it is clear that the King has lived up to hopes he will prove to be a 'Trump whisperer'. The warmth between the two men has been visible, with President Trump praising Charles, 77, as a great ambassador for his country.
Arlington National Cemetery Visit
Later, Their Majesties will commemorate the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery, one of the United States' most significant sites of military remembrance. They will lay a wreath and posy at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to commemorate the nation's war dead and honour the UK-US military partnership. Queen Elizabeth II visited the cemetery in 1957 during her first State Visit to the United States, also laying a wreath.
A 21 gun salute will be fired as The King and Queen arrive and the national anthems of the UK and the US will be played before Their Majesties approach the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, escorted by Major General Gant and Ambassador Monica Crawley. Since 1921, it has provided a final resting place for an unidentified American service member from the First World War, with 'Unknowns' from later conflicts interred in 1958 and 1984. Soldiers from nearby Fort Myer were first assigned to guard the Tomb during daylight hours in 1926, and, since 1937, the Tomb has been guarded 24 hours a day.
At the Tomb, the King will lay a wreath and the Queen will lay a posy. A military band will play four muffled ruffles and taps, before a moment of silent remembrance. Inside Arlington's Display Room, the King and Queen will be given a short tour of the exhibition by the Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera, and senior historian Dr Allison Finkelstein. Before leaving, they will also view the Canadian Cross of Sacrifice, dedicated to those US citizens who volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) and lost their lives in the First World War. More than 40,000 residents of the United States enlisted in the CEF prior to US entry into the war in April 1917.
At the Cross, Their Majesties will meet two groups of serving military personnel from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, before departing with another 21 gun salute.
Block Party in Virginia
This afternoon they will travel to Virginia for a more relaxed end to their trip, enjoying a lively Block Party - the US equivalent of a street party - in the pretty town of 'Front Royal'. Excited locals have been busy setting up since 5am and queuing to get a front-row spot to see the visiting royals. Some spoke to local television station ABC13.
'We came out early just to be part of the event, just to be part of the experience here. We never dreamed of the king, queen, or even come, you know, even Virginia, just much less Front Royal. So we just had to be a part of it,' said Mark Anderson. Kaden Anderson said: 'I mean, I'm excited. It's just like, because, like, this is a small place, like, you know, there's not much, like, big things happening here. So our king and queen of England come here, out of all places, it's very nice, and I'm very excited to see it.'
Residents say they hope the visit will help with visitor numbers to the region, seen as a gateway to the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains. 'I'm proud that they chose this place to come and visit. You know, we're kind of like tucked away, and to have something of such prestige come and visit. And a lot of us have, you know, after the ancestry thing that we've all done, might have a little touch of British in us,' said Brenda Taylor.
While there are several theories about the origins of the town's name, the most widely accepted is that it was named after a giant oak tree - the 'royal' tree of England - that stood in the public square during colonial times. The local militia was drilled there, with soldiers often given the command 'front the Royal Oak!' And this got shortened over the years to 'Front Royal'. It's certainly better than its previous nickname of 'Helltown' in the late 18th Century, due to the rowdy nature of the boatmen, livestock wranglers and traders who passed through, drinking and brawling. Fortunately, it is now a picturesque town of 15,000 inhabitants on the banks of the Shenandoah River, with a quintessential American Main Street.
