State Visit by the President of India: 27-29 October 2009

[Dierna23]

Originally Posted by Waika

Could she be a member of the Mountbatten family?

No. I think if one member of the Mountbatten-family would have attended the state visit, then it would have been Patricia, the Countess Mountbatten of Burma. Another possibility would have been Lady Pamela Hicks or Penny Romsey. But none of these three woman looks like the woman in the picture (well, Pamela a little bit, but she's much older than the woman in the pic).

[wbenson]

Could she be the Duchess of Grafton?

[QueenElizabeth]

The Lady in pink next to David Milliband is Diana, Lady Farnham; one of The Queen's Ladies in Waiting. They are certainly allowed to wear their tiaras, as they will do for the oncoming State Opening of Parliament as well.

[Skydragon]

Yes it is Diana Maxwell, Lady Farnham.

Pratibha Patil, India’s first female President, was invited to inspect a guard of honour when she arrived at Windsor Castle yesterday, right, where she is staying as a guest of the Queen.

It’s a tall order as Indian President inspects the guard - Times Online

[thedittybopper]

At Windsor Castle, the Queen Elizabeth II of EnglandThe Duke of EdinburghThe Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall chaired the state banquet given in honor of visiting President of India Prathibha Devi Singh Patil and her husband.

Banquet d’Etat Ã* Windsor en l’honneur de la présidente de l’Inde | Noblesse & Royautés some pictures

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by Ella Kay

Would any of the wives of peers wear tiaras to state banquets like this one?

This is the type of event when anyone who owns one wears it, (not the gents though).

[Skydragon]

British pomp and pageantry reigned yesterday as the Queen welcomed an Indian president to Britain for the first time in almost 20 years.

In the historic town of Windsor the two heads of state met, with the Royal Family putting on a display that left many in the visiting retinue breathless.
After travelling through the streets of the Royal Borough, which had been bedecked with the flags of India and the Union flag, in the Australian state coach, the party arrived in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle

Read more: All the Queen's horses turn up the pomp for visit of Indian president to Windsor Castle | Mail Online

[Lumutqueen]

Beautiful pictures from last night. I love the setting of Windsor for a state banquet.

[Ella Kay]

Originally Posted by Marsel

As a matter of fact, the lady in blue reminds me of the Duchess of Gloucester, could it be her? Similar profiles, similar hairstyle, tiara, and we know Birgitte was present too. And the sitting arrangements would fit as well; it’d make sense to sit the Duchess of Gloucester between the Prime Minister and the Leader of Opposition.

I suppose it could be; she has been growing her hair longer in recent years.

[Zonk]

No, its definitely not the Duchess of Gloucester.

I am sure Warren or Marsel will know who this is

[Princejohnny25]

Bit of a let down, photo wise, this state visit. Hopefully more will start appearing. What else is on the itinerary for the state visit?

[Al_bina]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

... [snipped] Read more: All the Queen's horses turn up the pomp for visit of Indian president to Windsor Castle | Mail Online

The march of Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry is just amazing. I wonder why the menu is in French. Is there a particular reason for doing so?

[Marsel]

Originally Posted by Zonk

No, its definitely not the Duchess of Gloucester.

I am sure Warren or Marsel will know who this is

Sorry Zonk, we'll have to rely on Warren to indentify this lady.
Duchess of Gloucester was my best guess, although I admit the features aren't quite right.

I can speculate with the known facts a bit though: since she is seated after Gordon and Sarah Brown but before David and Sam Cameron, and in very close proximity to the Royal Family, I'd say she's either a high-profile member of the Labour party or wife of one (or a noblewoman / member of the extended BRF).
Of high profile female Labour members, I can only think of Margaret Beckett, Harriet Harman and Tessa Jowell. The woman is definitely not Beckett but she could be Harman (same hair colour and profile) or Jowell (similar profile, slightly different hair colour).

Of wives of high-profile Labour members, that could be either Louise Shackelton - David Miliband's wife (unlikely, since Miliband was seated next to Prince Charles so presumably, his wife would be somewhere there as well) or Alice Perkins - Jack Straw's wife (much more likely, because the man on her right resembles Jack Straw quite a lot). I don't see much resemblance to either of them though; besides, Alice Perkins is Companion of the Order of the Bath and would most probably wear the Companion's badge for the event (which the lady in blue clearly doesn't).

The lady is definitely not spouse to any of the non-Royal Dukes though, that I can guarantee.

[Nico]

Well no more bling but the visit continues :

A selection of pics from today:

Natural History Museum

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/924...4AF09115F64A4C

http://cache4.asset-cache.net/xc/924...CD9018AD778EF6

Meeting with the PM

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/924...475591CADCD023

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/924...47873FF4201F71

Meeting with the POW

http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/924...DA7DE1179EA1DB

And many moooore :

Getty Images - Unsupported browser detected

[angela]

I really wish the Guildhall banquet was attended by other Royals and not always the Gloucesters. I don't find them interesting and wish they didn't dominate this event. I would rather see the Wessexes and Kents but really it would be better if all the Royals took a turn as it's always so boringly predictable that the Gloucesters will be going.

[Nico]

Last tiara alert of the visit : banquet at the Guildhall :

http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/924...7D499F0F9C0A2D

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/924...54716563C87F4B

The duke of Gloucester and the lovely duchess

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/924...74BA6FBE341C0E

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/924...C7F2D42E5C82E7

http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/924...53E204D61CEE8E

[James in London]

The Gloucesters do get hauled out a lot for foreign visits don't they - but I think their contribution is so often overlooked. Birgitte does know how to wear her rocks as well - but then she does have one of the best tiara collections in the business.

[Sereta]

Yeah Birgitte does have quite the collection of jewels.
I rather like seeing state visits at Windsor Castle. It's such a beautiful place!
I hope the Queen does it more often. I should think it's easier for security too instead of in the middle of London.

[Princejohnny25]

I agree, I think state visits at Windsor should become a regular thing.
Even though it would be nice to see the royals rotate for the Guildhall banquet, I just adore the Duchess of G and her jewels. She had one of the best collections in the royal family and that tiara is on of my favorites! Mind you though, has the Duke always looked like that?

[Zonk]

How has this banquet been dominated by the Gloucesters?

The visit IMO has been dominated by the two people: the Queen and the President of India.

We only have pictures of the Gloucesters at the banquet, and frankly I am glad to see a picture or two. They are two hardworking and often not appreciated members of the BRF (as are ALL the Kents).

I would agree that this appears to be low key state visit. This might offend people, but although the President of India is more important (in the scheme of things) than the First Lady of France. Youth and fashion will always shine a little more. Doesn't make it right....just the way it is.

On another note, the exhibits of the Natural History Museum look quite interesting. Must make a note to try visit if I ever get to England!