The royal ladies pulled out all the stops to attend a State Dinner in honour of the Emperor and Empress of Japan on Tuesday. The Queen , along with Duchess Sophie , the Duchess of Gloucester , and Empress Masaka, all donned glittering tiaras and incredible diamond jewels for the special event. But there was one accessory that set Camilla apart.
She was the only British royal to wear King Charles III 's new Royal Family Order. The Royal Family Order is a special honour given to female members of the Royal Family. It is not automatic and is usually given after a number of years of service as a working royal, according to Gert's Royals .
The Order features a portrait of the King that was painted by Elizabeth Meek, based on a photograph taken last year by Hugo Burnand. It was painted on a synthetic plastic material called polymin, rather than ivory as they previously were. The miniature, meanwhile, is ringed with diamonds weighing 10.
41 carats, and hangs from a pale blue silk ribbon. According to Buckingham Palace , the ribbon was made by Philip Treacy, while the colour was personally selected by Charles, in a nod to the colour used by his great-grandfather, King George V. Following the Order's debut at the State Dinner, fans have questioned why Camilla was the only one to wear it - and why Duchess Sophie did not.
Some suggested that it came down to hierarchy; once Kate returns to duty and has received hers, Sophie would then be given her Order. Others noted Princess Anne 's abse.