The Royal Family Joins World Leaders at G7 Reception

Members of the Royal Family joined HM tonight at a G7 reception in Cornwall.

More specifically, the event was at The Eden Project, the popular tourist attraction that is home to one of the largest rainforests in captivity.  

Many readers will remember the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to the Eden Project in September 2016. 

Back to tonight’s activities, here is another view of the royals arriving at tonight’s G7 Leader’s Reception.  On the right, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson welcome The Queen.  As far as I know, tonight’s reception is the first event with all senior royals in attendance since the beginning of the pandemic.

Lizzie Robinson of ITV shared a video of the royal arriving at tonight’s reception.

Watch as the Queen, Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive for the @G7 reception at the @edenproject pic.twitter.com/YzBCyD2QQi

— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) June 11, 2021

The BBC explains the G7 in this piece: “The G7 (Group of Seven) is an organisation of the world’s seven largest so-called advanced economies. They are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the United States. Representatives from the European Union are present while India, South Korea, and Australia have also been invited this year.”

Below, HM with Boris Johnson and the Bidens. Behind The Queen, you see Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Prince Charles. 

Also attending tonight’s reception, German leader Angela Merkel, Emanuel Macron of France, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and Italy’s Mario Draghi.

A closer view of HM. 

The Duke and Duchess with Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron of France. 

HM and with Boris and Carrie Johnson, and Justin Trudeau.

And The Queen with the Bidens. 

Before the early reception wrapped up, it was time for a group photo. 

More about the photo from this Evening Standard story: 

….after taking their seats and posing for a few moments, the Queen said: “Are you supposed to be looking as if you’re enjoying yourself?”

The leaders around the Queen laughed and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said emphatically “yes”.

Mr Johnson added: “We have been enjoying ourselves – in spite of appearances.”

This video includes the moment HM asks the question detailed above.

‘Are you supposed to be looking as if you’re enjoying yourself?’ The Queen jokes with the G7 leaders as they pose for a ‘family photo’.

Get the latest on the #G7Summit: https://t.co/2ZZ3MJRr9V pic.twitter.com/qdIpsyQ6vU

— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 11, 2021

The Telegraph reports that after the photo was taken, “Mrs Merkel walked over to the Queen and thanked her for posing for the picture, saying: “Thank you for doing that for us.”

Here is one more shot of HM.

After this first function, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge hosted a reception for the G7 Leaders and CEOs from the world’s largest companies, to discuss how the private sector can work with governments to tackle the climate emergency.

While that was going on, The Queen, The Duchess of Cornwall, as Patron, and The Duchess of Cambridge headed to an event in celebration of The Big Lunch, an initiative spearheaded by the Eden Project.

HM and two future Queen consorts arriving for the party. HM and Their Royal Highnesses wanted to meet local Big Lunch volunteers and thank them for their efforts in supporting their communities through the past year.

More from Simon Perry in his People story: 

There, the Queen, 95, Kate, 39, and Camilla, 73, met with volunteers who are spearheading the latest campaign to encourage people to meet up for meals and community bonding. These planners will put into motion a project that will be central to involving all Britons in next year’s Platinum Jubilee.

More about the Big Lunch from The Evening Standard. 

The Big Lunch is an annual get-together for neighbours and communities, with people encouraged to share friendship, food and to get to know each other better.

It has been running since 2009 and is an idea from the Eden Project, supported by the National Lottery.

The Duchess of Cornwall is patron of the event and celebrated its 10-year anniversary during a lunch at the Eden Project in 2019.

Over the past two years, it has run online due to Covid-19 but next year it will form an official part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

There was a funny moment when the time came for HM to cut a cake. 

 

We return to The Evening Standard. 

The Queen insisted on borrowing a ceremonial sword to cut a cake during a royal engagement – prompting laughter from the Duchesses of Cornwall and Cambridge.

The monarch had been handed the sword by Edward Bolitho, the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall, for the task of cutting a large cake marking the Big Lunch at the Eden Project.

When told by an aide that there was a conventional knife available, the Queen replied: “I know there is, this is more unusual”.

The Evening Standard story notes that “After handing the ceremonial sword back, the Queen used a knife to cut a second slice of cake and remarked: ‘That looks very good.’”

On the right you see Peter Stewart, Board Director of the Eden Project. 

Now for our look at what Kate wore. 

The Duchess was in an ivory or cream coatdress that is reported to be an Alexander McQueen design, which would make sense. It has the fit and flare silhouette Kate is fond of, long sleeves, slightly flared cuffs with four buttons, and a full skirt.  

The Duchess accessorized with a new pair of shoes, the Aquazzura Bow Tie 105 Suede Pumps ($750).

The point-toe style is done in soft suede with a wired ‘bow tie’ at the back and a 4″ stiletto heel. It is available in a mix of sizes at Farfetch; in limited sizes at Net-a-Porter, (If fond of the look but interested in a lower heel, the shoe does come in the 85mm height, about 3.25″.) Many thanks to Middleton Maven for another great ID. 

The Duchess brought back her vintage Josef bag that was first seen at a May 2017 garden party, and then again at Wimbledon in July 2019. The beaded piece showcases lovely Point de Beauvais embroidery, a decorative needlework technique characterized by its floral motifs.

Thank you to the always-on-top-of-things Elizabeth of Kate’s Closet for locating the precise bag carried by the Duchess. 

We also saw the return of a pair of earrings only worn once before this evening, seen during the visit to Sweden in January 2018, the Robinson Pelham ‘Aspen’ style.

Here you have a better look at them on the Duchess tonight (L) and three years ago (R).

She also brought back a piece that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, a three-strand pearl bracelet worn during the Germany tour in July 2017.  Below left, you see two small shots of it from tonight alongside pictures from July 2017.

For those interested in the info, Carrie Johnson wore the Festival Dress by The Vampire’s Wife; it is reported she rented it from HURR Collective.  Heaven at Dr. Jill Biden Fashion reports the First Lady wore a Gabriela Hearst Karban Trench and carried an Eric Clutch by Larroudé.   

VIDEOS: 

The Royal Family Channel offers more than 3 minutes of video from tonight’s event. 

The UK Press Association has about 1:30 from the group photo being taken. 

Queen’s quip puts G7 leaders at ease at evening reception pic.twitter.com/w7A6W1uwMv

— PA Media (@PA) June 11, 2021