Queen Consort Camilla welcomed ballet icon Mikhail Baryshnikov to Buckingham Palace to award him the Royal Academy of Dance’s highest honor. For the occasion, the Queen Consort dressed for the occasion, donning an exquisite Van Cleef & Arpels Bouton d’or Ballerina brooch, replete with 59 stones.
- The Queen Consort presented the Royal Academy of Dance’s highest honor to ballet icon Mikhail Baryshnikov.
- For the occasion, the Queen Consort wore a very on theme $86k Van Cleef & Arpels ballerina brooch, featuring over 50 stones and 1.11 carat diamonds.
- In other royal news, the Lancôme mascara Kate Middleton uses is on sale NOW.
Queen Consort Camilla welcomed a legend of both the stage and screen to Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
Mikhail Baryshnikov, one of the most celebrated and prestigious male dancers in the history of ballet, received the Royal Academy of Dance’s highest honor – the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award.
A decorated honor, the award first started back in 1953 to celebrate the late Queen’s Coronation and also marked the same year Her Majesty became Patron of the Royal Academy of Dance.
For the classy affair, the Queen Consort wore the Van Cleef & Arpels Bouton d’or Ballerina brooch, costing an estimated $86k (£72k).
The absolutely stunning piece includes 59 stones. 44 diamonds, totaling 1.11 carats, eight Lapis Lazuli stones, and seven turquoise stones.
The brooch also includes 18k yellow gold.
As per Van Cleef & Arpels, the brooch is inspired by the curved lines of the paillette motif, a jewelry design created by Van Cleef & Arpels in the late 1930s.
While wearing the apt design, Camilla received high praise from the legendary ballet star – he recognized her as a “fellow dancer.”
Mikhail told People that the whole ceremony was “a stupendous experience.”
He said, “For years I have looked at this from afar and suddenly I am inside for this poignant moment at this important time for a new administration of King Charles. It is an honor to meet Her Majesty.”
“I have heard from those who have got to know her that they are enchanted by her simplicity and charm and humor. I wish His Majesty and Her a long reign and continue their life in public service.”
Then he added, “She is a fellow dancer, I understand.”
That might be overstating it.
The Queen Consort did confirm she had taken up dance on International Dance Day back in 2020, when she admitted she had joined an organization for ballet learners over 55 called Silver Swans.
“I do a combination of a bit of Silver Swans and a bit of Pilates and a lot of walking, which I love,” Camilla told broadcaster Angela Rippon and former ballerina Dame Darcy Bussell, a judge on the popular UK show Strictly Come Dancing, at the time.
Mikhail Baryshnikov famously defected from the Soviet Union to Canada in 1974 to carry on his eminent work in the ballet.
From Giselle to Don Quixote, Mikhail’s dance was legendary. And after he switched performing to directing and choreographing, he came up with new choreography for the Nutcracker, which saw unparalleled success.
Of course, some might recognise Mikhail more as Petrovsky, Carrie Bradshaw’s Russian lover from the final season of Sex and the City.
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