Queen Camilla quietly honoured the late Queen Elizabeth with her choice of jewellery on the second day of her and King Charles’s landmark US state visit.
Her Majesty was typically elegant in a mint green coat dress with a matching hat as she walked up to the White House alongside the monarch, 77, in Washington DC this morning.
Pinned to her lapel was her mother-in-law’s glittering Cullinan V brooch, the 18.8-carat heart-shaped diamond that was among Elizabeth’s most treasured jewels.
The late Queen was famously seen wearing the brooch, which once belonged to her grandmother Queen Mary, in Prince Philip’s 99th official birthday portrait in June 2022.
After hosting a lavish garden party at the British Embassy yesterday evening, the King and Queen’s historic state visit got into full swing this morning.
The US President and First Lady, Donald and Melania Trump, formally welcomed the royal couple with a military ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, the highest diplomatic honour extended by the US to a visiting head of state.
Melania, 56, opted to wear a cream ensemble, comprising a fitted blazer and skirt.
The First Lady completed her outfit with a straw boater hat which, unlike some of her earlier headpieces, did not obscure her face.
Melania, 56, opted to wear a cream ensemble, comprising a fitted blazer and skirt,
The First Lady completed her outfit with a signature, oversized boater hat that partially obscured her face.
Queen Camilla blowing a kiss as she arrived at the White House on the second day of her and King Charles’s landmark US state visit
Her Majesty was typically elegant in a mint green coat dress with a matching hat as she walked up to the White House alongside the monarch, 77, in Washington DC this morning.
If today’s brooch was an ode to the late Queen, Camilla yesterday sent a strong message of Anglo-American unity with her Cartier pin.
Her Majesty exuded elegance in a new candy floss Dior coat dress as she disembarked the plane in Washington to begin their four-day trip to reinforce strained transatlantic ties.
The striking dress was a particularly poignant choice given the designer fashion label is adored by First Lady Melania Trump, suggesting the Queen was seeking to connect with the First Lady’s personal style preferences.
Fastened to Camilla’s baby pink dress was a Cartier brooch studded with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies. Combining the British and American flags, the striking piece is known as the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes brooch.
The historic item was originally gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth II by the former Mayor of New York City in 1957 during her first state visit to the US as Queen.
A key piece of diplomatic jewellery, the brooch symbolises the ‘special relationship’ and strong sense of unity shared between the UK and US and the Royal Family’s commitment to furthering that alliance during this trip.
After their high-profile, but low-key welcome to the US yesterday by President Trump and Melanial, which involved pots of tea, dainty sandwiches and small talk, Charles and Camilla officially kicked off the landmark state visit.
The American leader, who sources say was insistent that the first inbound state visit of his second presidency would be by the British Royal Family and has described the monarch as a ‘great man’, was keen to show off his country’s military history and prowess.
The King and Queen’s official arrival has been billed as a major event in the King’s latest trip to the US, which comes amid difficult relations between the Donald Trump administration and Sir Keir Starmer’s government.
Queen Camilla (right) walks alongside First Lady Melania, with King Charles and US President Donald Trump leading the way
The US President and First Lady, Donald and Melania Trump, formally welcomed the royal couple with a military ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House
The Queen and US First Lady sharing a smile while wearing matching cream outfits
Two of a kind! Camilla spotted in conversation with Melania during this morning’s welcome
It featured a traditional military ceremony by the US Army Herald Trumpets, followed by national anthems of both countries played by the US Marine Band and a Presidential Salute Battery rendering a 21-gun cannon salute.
President Trump said it was a ‘tremendous privilege’ to host Their Majesties and spoke of his own enduring love and admiration for the monarchy, inspired by his Scottish Mother’s adoration of Queen Elizabeth II – and her ‘crush on a young Prince Charles.’
The President noted that Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, who died in 2000, ‘loved the royal family and the Queen’, and that she thought the then-Prince Charles was ‘cute’.
‘My mother had a crush on Charles. Can you believe it? Amazing how I wonder what she is thinking right now,’ he said.
It comes after King Charles’s ‘hot equerry’ was spotted at the ceremonial welcome for the couple at the White House today.
Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson, who previously worked for Queen Elizabeth II and stole thousands of hearts at Charles’ coronation, sported a kilt as he walked among guests awaiting the appearance of the royal couple in Washington.
Before the President and his wife Melania Trump appeared on stage alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla, Lieutenant Colonel Thompson was seen smiling as he mingled on the White House lawn.
He is a senior aide to Charles and a former senior bodyguard to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The officer, from Surrey, first entered the limelight in 2022 for his role in royal public events following the late Queen’s death, and was nicknamed the ‘hot equerry’ after going viral online.
But to the disappointment of many, it emerged he was already married and had been since 2010.
He and his wife quietly separated before the army officer found love again with his now-wife, a PR executive named Olivia.
Lieutenant Colonel Thompson has become close with the royal family through his years of service and even accompanied them on Christmas Day in 2024.
