british royalty

Barbour Waxed Cotton New Utility Jacket

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

Prince William Spotted House Shopping in Malibu

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Last month Britain's Prince Harry made his first official visit to the U.S. and kicked our asses at polo. Now his brother Prince William is reportedly house shopping in Malibu. Looks like we're in for another invasion of British royals.

The dashing Prince and his girlfriend, party favor heiress Kate Middleton, toured a privately-sited $8 million 4-bed, 4.5-bath compound with a detached guest house, 4-car garage and beautiful ocean view.

As it turns out, that house had been sold (to someone else) but no doubt the broker, Malibu's Bentzen Levin Real Estate, had plenty of other equally luxe listings to tempt his royal highness; there are several in the $6 - $16 million range.

Source

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, California, Malibu, Prince Harry, Prince William, PrinceHarry, PrinceWilliam

Prince Harry to Play in Manhattan Polo Match

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine, Events, Charity, Sports

On May 30 Britain's Prince Harry will play in the second annual Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic during his first official visit to the U.S. Last year we told you about the launch of the Manhattan Classic, the first polo match to be played in NYC in 70 years. For this year's event the famed St. Regis hotel is offering an Aficionado package, including a stay at the ultra-luxe hotel, VIP seating at the match for two guests, and brunch the next day with Nacho Figueras, captain of Ralph Lauren's Black Watch polo team (and a Ralph Lauren model).

The St. Regis will feature its renowned Afternoon Tea at the polo match, and Sandro Micheli of Adour Alain Ducasse at The St. Regis New York has created a special menu for the occasion. At the match taking place on Governor's Island, the Prince will play opposite Black Watch on a team captained by Nick Roldan. Veuve Clicquot is donating proceeds from the event to American Friends of Sentebale, a charity supporting at-risk children in Lesotho, Africa, founded by Prince Harry and Lesotho's Prince Seeiso.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Alain Ducasse, AlainDucasse, British royalty, BritishRoyalty, champagne, Manhattan, polo, Prince Harry, PrinceHarry, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren, St. Regis, St.Regis, Veuve Clicquot, VeuveClicquot

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

The Classicist: Polistas - For Polo Players, By Polo Players

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

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

Enthusiasm for the noble sport of polo and the luxurious lifestyle it entails has never been more in evidence. It seems the economic downturn has done little to dampen it, perhaps because polo's roots are so steeped in class and tradition. Over the past several months we saw Veuve Clicquot stage the first polo match in New York City in over 70 years; St. Regis inaugurate a major new International Polo Cup; the Snow Polo championships take place in Aspen and St. Moritz; and the first Desert Palm Nations Polo Cup in Dubai. Polo player Johnny Lynn (above) saw it all coming. In 2001 he founded Polistas, the first true polo lifestyle brand, made for polo players by polo players, and now he's opening up branches all over the world.

Lynn, a Canadian-born former financier who plays polo internationally and teaches as well, conceived of Polistas to outfit polo teams with high quality clothing and accessories both for playing in and for après polo. An immediate success, polo and equestrian enthusiasts of all stripes soon gravitated to his flagship store in London's famed Burlington Arcade. The name Polistas is Argentine slang for "polo players" and it is the classic Argentinian polo lifestyle - rugged, laid-back and timeless - that comes through in Polistas' products and attitude. For the past six years Polistas has had a major presence at Harrods and other high-end boutiques worldwide, and has been selected as the official supplier to several major tournaments, including the Veuve Clicquot British Open Gold Cup, The Hildon Queen's Cup, and the Prince of Wales Trophy in the UK.

Gallery: Polistas Polo Style

Founder Johnny Lynn and Polo Babes Outside the Burlington Arcade Store

Prince Charles wearing a Polistas polo shirt

Tags: Argentina, British royalty, British style, BritishRoyalty, BritishStyle, Burlington Arcade, BurlingtonArcade, Equestrian, Harrods, Horses, Johnny Lynn, JohnnyLynn, London, Polistas, Polo, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, PrinceCharles, PrinceOfWales, Snow polo, SnowPolo, St. Regis, St.Regis, UK, Veuve Clicquot, VeuveClicquot

Continue reading “The Classicist: Polistas - For Polo Players, By Polo Players”

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

Guns Fit for a Maharajah on Offer at Christie's

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Sports

An extremely rare and ornate pair of exhibition-grade gold-inlaid J. Purdey & Sons 12-bore shotguns stars in Christie's Exceptional and Fine Sporting Guns and Rifles sale in London today. Estimated at $320,000 - $400,000, the British-made shotguns contain an astounding amount of gold, accounting for the extremely high estimate. As Christie's notes, with the exception of weapons built for the Maharajahs of India, modern sporting guns were "only traditionally given gold inlay as a mild form of embellishment."

This extraordinary pair was actually inspired by gunsmith Ken Hunt's studies of arms and armor in the Tower of London, the Wallace Collection and the Victoria & Albert Museum. They are presented in a beautifully-crafted oak and leather case. Purdey, founded in 1814, holds numerous warrants of appointment as gun and rifle makers to the British and other European royal families. Queen Victoria purchased a pair of Purdey guns in 1838.

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, Christies, Purdey, Shotgun, Sporting guns, SportingGuns

See Australia From the Prince of Wales' Private Train

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Starting next month, you can hire the private train carriage built for the Prince of Wales in 1919 on an unparalleled journey through the heart of Australia. The carriage will be available on The Ghan's journey from Adelaide on the continent's southern coast to the port of Darwin at its top, one of the world's great railway excursions. The historic carriage was built for Edward, the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII and then the Duke of Windsor), for his royal visit in 1919. Accommodating up to ten guests in its ornate wood-paneled lounge and suites, the beautifully-restored carriage costs about $15,000 for a one-way, two-night trip.

[via UrbanDaddy]

Gallery: Prince of Wales' Private Carriage

Tags: Australia, british royalty, BritishRoyalty, Luxury travel, LuxuryTravel, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Train

Value of Buckingham Palace Plummets by $100 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Wealth

It seems even the Queen of England is feeling the credit crunch. The value of her official London residence, Buckingham Palace, has fallen by about $100 million over the past 12 months, the London Telegraph reports. The 52-bedroom mansion, which dates to 1703 and sits on 40 prime acres, is now valued at $1.7 billion, down from $1.8 billion in August of last year. The dollar figure was assessed by UK property values database Zoopla, which has also calculated that the Queen's weekend retreat, Windsor Castle, has dropped about $15 million in value over the same period to $320 million. "The figures highlight that even the Royal Family aren't immune to the recent property market slump and that larger properties have been effected too," Zoopla CEO Alex Chesterman tells the paper, noting that further decreases could well be in the offing.

Gallery: Poor Buckingham Palace

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, Buckingham Palace, BuckinghamPalace, London, luxury real estate, LuxuryRealEstate, Property values, PropertyValues, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Real Estate, RealEstate, Windsor Castle, WindsorCastle, Zoopla

London's Famed Berners Hotel to Re-Open in '09

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Berners Hotel, an Edwardian edifice in London's West End, is set to re-open in 2009 following extensive renovations restoring the famed spot to its former glory. The four-star hotel, named for Josias Berners who purchased the land on which it stands in 1654, was originally constructed in 1835 as five conjoined houses in the classical style. At the turn of the 20th century it was converted into a luxury hotel; King Edward VII was said to have frequently entertained his mistress, Lillie Langtry, in a private suite of rooms there, and it also served as the London premises of famed Russian jeweler Carl Fabergé. All 176 rooms as well as the landmarked public spaces are being restored to their Edwardian splendor under the auspices of JJW Hotels' Luxury Collection.

Gallery: Berners Hotel

Tags: Berners Hotel, BernersHotel, British Royalty, BritishRoyalty, Edwardian, Faberge, King Edward VII, KingEdwardVii, London, Luxury hotels, LuxuryHotels

Sexy Stars of Burberry's Cool New Ad Campaign

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Burberry creative director Christopher Bailey is basing the British fashion house's new Fall/Winter 2008-09 ad campaign on one of our favorite movies from last year, rock photographer Anton Corbijn's Control.

Bailey hired Mario Testino to mimic the moody flick about Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis in the ads, which are shot in black-and-white like the movie.

Sam Riley, the talented actor who played Curtis in Control, stars alongside sexy British model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, right, who's said to be a distant cousin of the Queen of England. If so she must be one of the somewhat overbred Windsor family's more attractive relations.

See the gallery for an image from the new campaign and more.

[via Kempt]

Gallery: Burberry for Fall

A classic Burberry ad starring Kate Moss.

Tags: Ad campaigns, AdCampaigns, Anton Corbijn, AntonCorbijn, British fashion, British royalty, BritishFashion, BritishRoyalty, Burberry, Christopher Bailey, ChristopherBailey, Control, Joy Division, JoyDivision, Mario Testino, MarioTestino, Models, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, RosieHuntington-whiteley, Sam Riley, SamRiley

The Classicist: The Henley Royal Regatta

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Sports, Men's Style, The Classicist

Earlier this month we reported on the Royal Ascot races, one of the highlights of the English social season. This week ushers in another classic British sporting event-cum-society pageant, the Henley Royal Regatta. The five-day Regatta, held on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, takes place over the first weekend of every July and runs from Wednesday the 2nd through Sunday the 6th this year.

International crews compete in various races at the Regatta, which has been held every year since 1839 except during the two World Wars, the main event being the Grand Challenge Cup for Men's Eights. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort, became the Regatta's first Royal Patron in 1851, a tradition carried on by the reigning monarch ever since, though unlike Royal Ascot they don't always deign to attend.

Even more so than at Ascot, Henley provides an opportunity for aristocrats from the sporting and social sets to dress in that distinctively British style which has inspired so many fashion designers over the decades. The commercialization of Henley, unlike Ascot, Wimbledon and cricket at Lord's, has been slower to take hold, and as Godfrey Smith writes in The English Season, it is something of "an Edwardian time warp."

Gallery: Henley Royal Regatta

Tags: British Royalty, British style, BritishRoyalty, BritishStyle, England, English society, EnglishSociety, Henley, Henley Royal Regatta, HenleyRoyalRegatta, Pimms, Regattas, Rowing, Royal Ascot, Royal Family, RoyalAscot, RoyalFamily, Sporting events, SportingEvents, Thames

Continue reading “The Classicist: The Henley Royal Regatta”

New Dress Code, Same Classic Style at Royal Ascot Races

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Events, Sports, Men's Style

Since it was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, the annual Royal Ascot races have become the highlight of the English social season. Ostensibly a five-day sporting event, it's also evolved into something of an immense fashion show, marked by the arrival of the Royal Family in ceremonial horse-drawn carriages every day. It has become the style for ladies to sport increasingly outrageous hats, and lately the traditional rules about "formal day dress" in the coveted Royal Enclosure have been rather loosely interpreted, much to the Queen's dismay.

This year officials have cracked down, declaring that "Off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch and/or miniskirts are considered unsuitable," while "Midriffs must be covered and trouser suits must be full length and of matching material and color." Those not in compliance will be asked to leave the Royal Enclosure. Gentlemen have always been required to wear full morning dress with top hats. Lest all the pageantry detract from the business at hand, it's worth noting that prize money at this year's event, which runs through Saturday, has reached an unprecedented $7.8 million.

Gallery: Royal Ascot Races

The Queen arrives in her ceremonial carriage.

Tags: Aristocrats, Ascot, British fashion, British royalty, British style, BritishFashion, BritishRoyalty, BritishStyle, England, Equestrian, Horse racing, Horseracing, Queen of England, QueenOfEngland, Royal Ascot, Royal family, RoyalAscot, RoyalFamily, Society

Sean Connery's '61 Bentley Up for Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

A beautiful 1961 Bentley S2 saloon that belonged to actor Sean Connery is going up for sale this Saturday in England. The car is being offered at Bonhams' Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Select Pre-War Motor Cars and Automobilia Sale during the Rolls-Royce Enthusiast's Club's Annual Rally at historic Kelmarsh Hall near Northampton. The stately S2 model saloon, above, finished in two-tone Shell Grey/Tudor Grey with a contrasting red leather interior, is estimated at only $24,000 - $30,000.

Also included in the auction: A rare 1919/20 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle, est. $280,000 - $320,000, the highest-priced lot; the ex-Earls Court Motor Show 1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Touring Limousine, one of only 13 built, est. $116,000 - $130,000; a 1963 Bentley S3 Continental Flying Spur Saloon with coachwork by H J Mulliner, est. $130,000 - $140,000; and the steal of the sale, a 1976 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Saloon, formerly the property of Lord Leverhulme, Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, which has been ridden in by several members of the Britsh Royal Family including the Queen Mother, Prince Charles and the late Princess Di, est. only $26,000 - $30,000.

[via Kempt]

Gallery: Bonhams Rolls & Bentley Sale

1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Touring Limousine

1963 Bentley S3 Continental 'Flying Spur' Saloon

1919/20 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Alpine Eagle

Tags: Bentley, Bonhams, British royalty, BritishRoyalty, England, James Bond, JamesBond, Kelmarsh Hall, KelmarshHall, Prince Charles, PrinceCharles, Rolls-Royce, Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club, Rolls-royceEnthusiastsClub, Sean Connery, SeanConnery

Princess Margaret's Family Auctions Off Family Jewels

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Auctions

The McDonald's jewels may be impressive but nothing get the jewel hunter excited like royal jewelry. Christie's has announced a sale of the late Princess Margaret's jewels and other objects to be sold in London on June 13 and 14. Princess Margaret, the sister of the queen, died in 2002 and her children are putting selected pieces up for sale. Items for bid include a Faberge clock, a diamond necklace and the Poltimore tiara which the princess wore at her wedding. The tiara is estimated at £200,000. The auction isn't all pricey items, at the low-end you can pick up a hedgehog brooch for a mere £50. The sale is expected to bring in approximate £2 million pounds.

Source

Tags: auction, british royalty, christies, diamonds, faberge, jewelry, princess margaret, PrincessMargaret, tiara