QueenofEngland

Historic Steel Superyacht Used by British Royals for Sale at $10.5 Million

The world's oldest steel superyacht, still steaming along in style nearly 110 years after she was launched, is being offered for sale for about $10.5 million. The 182.-ft. Madiz (above), built by the Ailsa Shipyard in Troon, Scotland and originally christened the Triton, served in the British Royal Navy as a Royal Patrol Yacht during World War II, and King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth II used her on several occasions. The last surviving ship to have been personally designed by G. L. Watson, the pioneering yacht designer who created some of the most successful contenders for the America's Cup, the stately craft was refitted with Maybach engines and then completely restored in 2006. Decks of Burmese teak, Cuban mahogany in the master staterooms and solid oak paneling in the reception areas speak to the luxury of a bygone era. There are stylish accommodations for 14 along with 9 crew to serve them champagne and keep the woodwork shining.

[via JamesList]

Tags: British Royal Navy, British royalty, BritishRoyalNavy, BritishRoyalty, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Scotland, superyacht, yacht

Cufflinks Made from Prince Charles' Aston Martin

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Men's Style

A while back when Prince Charles converted his beloved 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Volante, a 21st birthday present from his mummy the Queen of England, to run on wine, there were some spare engine parts left over. Now London-based TMB Artmetal, makers of "provenance" items fashioned from parts of automotive, aeronautic, locomotive and maritime icons, has come out with limited edition cufflinks made from the original aluminum engine pistons removed during the conversion. There are two editions of 100 pairs, each priced at £995 or about $1,600, finished with 18ct gold. One edition is an exact, miniature sculpture of the DB6 Volante, whilst the other replicates the car's iconic wheel spinners – the quick-release fixing that secures the Aston's wheels. All profits go to Charles' youth charity, The Prince's Trust.

[via Duncan Quinn]

Tags: Aston Martin, AstonMartin, biofuel, British royalty, BritishRoyalty, cufflinks, London, Prince Charles, PrinceCharles, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, UK

David Linley Tri-Time Desk Clock

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style

Viscount David Linley, the bespoke cabinetmaker who's a nephew of the Queen of England, has designed his first timepiece in the form of an extremely handsome desk clock with a streamlined Art Deco feel. The Linley Tri-Time Desk Clock (above), priced at about $1,500, is finished in beautifully grained walnut with stainless steel detailing and three Swiss clocks allowing the owner to keep track of separate time zones. The clock is from Linley's ever-expanding range of accessories including boxes for jewelry, watches and cufflinks, humidors, desk sets and more. The aristocratic designer credits his talented father, the eminent photographer Lord Snowdon, as being particularly influential on his career, having himself trained as an architect and designed amongst other things the Aviary at London Zoo. His mother of course is Princess Margaret.

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, clock, David Linley, DavidLinley, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, wood

Queen of England's Luxe Stationer Smythson Sold for $29 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping

Back in March we broke the news that Smythson of Bond Street, suppliers of luxury stationery and leatherbound diaries to the Queen of England and other toffs, was being put up for sale. Now the famed firm has been has been sold for £18 million or about $29 million to Greenwill SA, the holding company for Tivoli Group, an Italian leather goods manufacturer. Smythson had insisted the sale was motivated not by financial hardship but rather the result of several parties having expressed interest in acquiring the business. However, the sale price is not much of a premium over the £16 million a consortium led by Goldman Sachs banker Mike Sherwood paid for the company in 2005. Founder Frank Smythson opened his first London shop in 1887 offering "First class stationery, leather goods and cabinet work." In addition to its UK shops Smythson now has stores on New York's 57th St. and Beverly Hills' famed Rodeo Drive. Smythson was granted a Royal Warrant to Her Majesty the Queen in 1964. Other warrants followed: HRH The Prince of Wales in 1980, HM The Queen Mother in 1987, and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 2002.

Source

Tags: Italy, leathergoods, London, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, Smythson, stationery, Tivoli Group, TivoliGroup, UK

The Queen's Sexiest Cousin Gets Her 'Angel' Wings

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Stunning aristocratic British model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (above), who's said to be a cousin of the Queen of England, has earned her "wings" and been anointed as the newest Victoria's Secret Angel. Huntington-Whiteley, who has appeared in the lingerie purveyor's eye-popping fashion shows, has also modeled for the likes of Burberry, Agent Provocateur and the Pirelli Calendar. She is the only current British Angel and joins Lindsay Ellingson, Emanuela DiPaula, Candice Swanepoel and Chanel Iman among the newcomers. The Angels are VS' spokesmodels and have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Former members include Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum and Gisele Bundchen.

Tags: lingerie UK, LingerieUk, model, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, RosieHuntington-whiteley, supermodel, Victorias Secret, VictoriasSecret

William & Son Granted Royal Warrant

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches, Celebrity Shopping

William & Son, the luxury goods emporium located in London's elegant Mayfair district founded by William Asprey after his family's business, Asprey of London, was sold off back in the '90s, was recently granted a Royal Warrant to HM Queen Elizabeth II. The firm (which we wrote about last year), offers high-end jewelry, silver, watches, leathergoods, china and crystal, as well as custom-made shotguns and other bespoke services. The Royal Warrant is awarded as a mark of recognition to companies who have regularly supplied goods or services for at least five years to members of the Royal Family. Warrants have always been regarded as a mark of excellence and quality, and are highly prized. Other firms holding the Royal Warrant include Asprey, Swaine Adeney Brigg, Barbour and Laphroaig.

Tags: alligator, Asprey, Barbour, jewelry, Laphroaig, London, luxury goods, LuxuryGoods, Queen Elizabeth, Queen of England, QueenElizabeth, QueenOfEngland, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, shotgun

Barbour Waxed Cotton New Utility Jacket

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style

For its Spring / Summer collection which we previewed back in March, famed British clothing company Barbour has come out with an updated version of its classic waterproof waxed jacket. While this time of year usually calls for seersucker, the weather just isn't co-operating so waterproofs are de rigeur. The New Utility jacket (above), part of the company's Contemporary line, features slimmer proportions, cargo-style pockets and a smaller collar. Lined in classic Barbour Tartan, the jacket is made of the company's classic mediumweight 6 oz. Barbour Sylkoil waxed fabric. Barbour, which was founded in 1894 and holds Royal Warrants from Queen Elizabeth II, The Duke of Edinburgh, and The Prince of Wales, is further expanding on tradition with artfully updated designs like this one.

Tags: Barbour, British royalty, BritishRoyalty, hunting, jacket, outerwear, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, UK, waterproof

Celebrating Father's Day With Johnnie Walker

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Even when dad's not available I like to spend Father's Day with the family – the Johnnie Walker family. They have a Scotch for every occasion, and, as it happens, every dad as well, with five varieties ranging in age, complexity and exclusivity. Having tried (and tried and tried) every blended Scotch on the market over the years, I long ago settled on JW as the best; judging by the Royal Warrant on the bottle, that famous souse the Queen of England agrees. For one thing, it's the only one that's got any real peat to it, and of course we've always been fond of the "Striding Man" on the bottle; We like to think he's striding off in search of a damn drink after a long day's foxhunting, hoping the family is lined up waiting at home. Let's meet 'em:

The classic Red Label (which dates from 1906) and Black Label (1909) are old standbys, of course. We like the former with soda and the latter on the rocks. Originally known as Extra Special Old Highland Whisky in the 1800s, Red Label ($23) is a combination of 30 spicy, smoky malts, such as Talisker, and lingering, lighter grains. It has notes of clove, butterscotch, spice and vanilla, with a robust, smoky character and a warm finish.

Black Label ($34) contains as many as 40 whiskies all aged in oak casks for at least 12 years, including Talisker and Cardhu. The result is a rich combination of dry smokiness, with malt and peat overtones balanced by hints of cedar and fruit, with trademark dark chocolate and vanilla notes.

On to more recent innovations: Green, Gold and Blue Label. Green Label ($60) is actually a blend of 15-year-old Island and Speyside malt whiskies. Notes of spice, green fruit and nutmeg, are accompanied by an aroma of green apples and pears with a hint of sandalwood.

Gold Label ($85) is crafted from blend of 15 different whiskies, each aged at least 18 years. It's a very mellow Scotch, with a creamy, honeyed body and a slight caramel and vanilla nose. Some folk like to freeze it for 24 hours to release its true character as the whisky warms in the mouth.

Finally Blue Label ($220) is the ultimate luxury blend. Many of the rare whiskies come from distilleries that no longer exist, hence the pricetag. The nose has hints of smoke, sherry and fruitcake, while the body is soft and mellow with sherry, honey and vanilla notes married with peat and dark chocolate. The bee's knees.

Tags: Fathers Day, FathersDay, Johnnie Walker, JohnnieWalker, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, Scotch, Talisker, whiskey, whisky

The Classicist: Barbour Goes "Britprep"

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, The Classicist

Last month we told you about the super-cool new collaboration between Japanese designer Tokihito Yoshida (aka To Ki To) and famed British clothing company J. Barbour & Sons, known for their iconic waxed jackets. For spring / summer, Barbour, which was founded in 1894 and holds Royal Warrants from HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and HRH The Prince of Wales, is further expanding on tradition in the form of a new "Britprep" collection. They hope to evolve as a lifestyle brand appealing to a wider customer base with the development of more contemporary products focused on rugged tailoring and fit.

With the collection Barbour "brings authenticity to a look that defines the lifestyle of a British summer." Layers for men and women are "worn with character and wit to create an individual style." As befits a company with such a rich history, Barbour's heritage, which continues to inspire these new designs and developments, lies at the heart of the new collection. So what exactly is "Britprep"? According to Barbour, the look is not quite as clean and crisp as American Preppy. Simple, stylish, and contemporary, the collection "pays particular attention to fashion, color and tradition capturing the essence of 'Britishness.'"

Barbour has never really gone in for logos, but with the Britprep collection (above) they're employing a new crest. Unlike designers who invent crests, it's an authentic bit of heraldry deriving from the original Barbour family coat of arms originating in Galloway, Scotland. It is seen in a few variations throughout the entire collection, from subtle prints on inside jacket linings to the bold emphasis directly on the chest of polos, rugby shirts, a blazer, and even a version of Barbour's classic quilted Liddesdale jacket (pictured above left and in the gallery).

Gallery: Barbour Goes 'Britprep'

Tags: Barbour, British fashion, BritishFashion, preppy, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, Scotland, UK

Continue reading “The Classicist: Barbour Goes "Britprep" ”

Queen of England's Luxe Stationer Smythson for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Smythson of Bond Street, suppliers of luxury stationery and leatherbound diaries to the Queen of England, is being put up for sale. According to the company however this is not a distress sale, rather the result of several parties having expressed interest in acquiring the business, the London Telegraph reports. Smythson was bought for £16 million in 2005 by a consortium led by Goldman Sachs banker Mike Sherwood. Sales have increased considerably since then and are expected to be around £20 million for the previous year-to-date. Nonetheless this seems like an odd time for any investor to pay a premium for a luxury goods company.

Founder Frank Smythson opened his first London shop in 1887. His trade card described his business as "First class stationery, leather goods and cabinet work." In addition to its UK shops Smythson now has stores on New York's 57th St. and Beverly Hills' famed Rodeo Drive. Smythson was granted a Royal Warrant to Her Majesty the Queen in 1964. Other warrants followed: HRH The Prince of Wales in 1980, HM The Queen Mother in 1987, and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 2002. Back in September we reported on Smythson's luxurious $6,500 watch cabinet.

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, Diary, London, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Rodeo Drive, RodeoDrive, Royal warrant, RoyalWarrant, Smythson, stationery, UK

To Ki To x Barbour Ltd. Edition Collection

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Sports, Men's Style

Classic British outdoor clothing company Barbour has teamed up with Japanese designer Tokihito Yoshida to launch a new limited edition capsule collection for Autumn Winter '09. J. Barbour & Sons, known for their iconic waxed jackets, was founded in 1894 and holds Royal Warrants from HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and HRH The Prince of Wales. A graduate of Kuwasawa Design School, Tokihito previously designed for companies including Blades Savile Row in Japan before founding his own brand, To Ki To, in 1997. Consisting of five waxed and three waterproof jackets for men, the inspiration for the new To Ki To range came from Barbour's rich archive, which goes as far back as 1908, along with technical innovations and a modern fit.

Tokihito is renowned for the detail that he adds to his garments and he has taken Barbour's distinctive style and added his own signature design to create a unique collection that includes a wax Trench Coat, Bicycle, Horse Riding (above), Motor Riding and Driving jackets. Special features include zip on/zip off detachable helmet-style hoods, detachable padded vests, water-resistant map pockets, and integral storm skirts. On the trench coat, the vent and the front of the jacket combine to make a pair of "culottes" with the button features. Pricing has not been announced but Michael Williams at A Continuous Lean tags it at about $799 - $999 apiece.

Gallery: To Ki To x Barbour

Tags: A continuous Lean, AContinuousLean, Barbour, Equestrian, Hunting, Japan, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, Shooting, To Ki To, Tokihito Yoshida, TokihitoYoshida, ToKiTo, UK

The Queen's $14 Million Bespoke Biofuel Bentleys

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

The Queen of England is having her two $14 million bespoke Bentley limousines converted to run on biofuels. Bentley will replace the 400 HP twin-turbo 6.75 liter V8 engines on the unique cars (above) by way of promoting the new range of eco-efficient models the famed marque plans to introduce by 2012, the London Daily Mail reports. The first of the Queen's one-off, supersized limousines, based on an ultra-luxe prototype and costing about $14 million to build, was a gift from Bentley on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002. Elizabeth II was so taken with it that she persuaded Bentley to build her another. "We have a lot of support from the Royal Family for our biofuel strategy," a Bentley exec tells the paper. "It is something about which they all take a keen interest." Prince Charles has already converted one of his Aston Martins to run on bio-ethanol made from surplus English wine, and has had his Jaguar, Audi and Range Rover converted to run on old cooking fat.

Tags: Bentley, Biofuel, British Royalty, BritishRoyalty, Limousine, Prince Charles, PrinceCharles, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland

David Beckham's Customized Bentley for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

David Beckham's ultra-luxe customized 2002 Bentley Arnage T (above) is up for sale in the UK. The soccer star outfitted the top-of-the-line $290,000 car with $120,000 worth of options and extras, bringing the total original cost to $410,000. The 450 h.p. twin turbo V12, which has only 25,000 miles on it, is being offered for $170,000, the UK Auto Trader reports. Beckham drove the Bentley to Buckingham Palace in 2003 when the Queen of England decorated him with an OBE, and it is said to be one of only two Arnages pictured on the walls of Bentley's head office in Crewe; the other belongs to the Queen herself.

Among the many extras Beckham had installed are a custom cream leather interior, a refrigerator and TV screens in the rear compartment, "Le Mans"-style wing vents, and a matching cream leather child seat embroidered with his son's name, Brooklyn. He also had his wife's name, Victoria (aka Posh), embroidered into the rear center leather console. Nowadays, Beckham, who is living in Los Angeles and playing for the L.A. Galaxy, drives a customized $500,000+ Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe, as we reported last month.

Tags: Bentley, David Beckham, DavidBeckham, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Rolls-Royce, Victoria Beckham, VictoriaBeckham

What Kind of Jet Should the Queen Get?

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Back in June, my colleague Deidre Woollard first reported that the Queen of England was in the market for a new private jet. Now the London Sun reports that her budget for the plane, the first intended solely for her own use in her 50-year-reign, has been set at $12.5 million.

Since that's several million shy of the price of a Gulfstream IV, an appropriate aircraft for a head of state, we consulted an expert as to what she should spend the money on. Adam Katz, founder / owner of luxury private jet charter and management service Talon Air, says for that kind of money she may have to consider pre-owned.

"She should buy a late model midsized aircraft like a Hawker 850," Katz tells Luxist, "because it has had its roots in England for more than 50 years. The Hawker 850 is exquisitely efficient and low in cost to operate. It can fly for six hours with eight passengers; it's ultra luxurious, tried and true. The $12.5 million can buy her an almost new Hawker 850 and will serve her very well." Katz recently took delivery of the first Hawker 4000 super-midsized business jet for commercial service to add to Talon Air's burgeoning fleet.

Tags: Adam Katz, AdamKatz, Gulfstream, Hawker 850, Hawker Beechcraft, Hawker850, HawkerBeechcraft, Private jet, PrivateJet, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Talon Air, TalonAir

The Queen's China Maker Royal Worcester Up for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

As my colleague Deidre Woollard reported the other day, Hardy Amies, the Queen of England's dressmaker for more than 30 years, is in danger of failing financially. Now the Queen's china supplier Royal Worcester has been put up for sale, leading to fears that the UK's "heritage brands" are becoming an endangered species, the London Times reports. Royal Worcester, which dates back to 1751, received its first royal warrant in 1789, and employed more than 1,000 people at its height. However, it has gotten into difficulty due to competition from abroad, cheaper products flooding the market, and changing tastes in tableware. For traditionalists however, Royal Worcester remains the gold standard.

Tags: China, Porcelain, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Royal warrant, Royal Worcester, RoyalWarrant, RoyalWorcester, Tableware, UK

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