The British Royal Family hosted King Mahendra and Queen Ratna of Nepal on a magnificent State Visit to Britain on this day in in 1960, 65 years ago, just a few months before the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s first State Visit to Nepal.
The British Royal Family received King Mahendra and Queen Ratna of Nepal at Victoria Station in London, which was followed by a Carriage Procession back to Buckingham Palace but there are no images of that evening’s State Banquet inside Buckingham Palace.
The following year, the Queen (wearing the Vladimir Tiara) and Royal Family joined King Mahendra and Queen Ratna (in the Nepalese Diamond Tiara) for a glittering Gala Performance at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
The Queen Mother (in the Greville Tiara), Princess Margaret (wearing the Lotus Flower Tiara) and Antony Armstrong-Jones,, as well as Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood (wearing the Harewood Diamond Tiara).
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (in the Teck Turquoise Tiara), The Duchess of Kent (wearing the Cambridge Sapphire Parure), and Princess Alexandra (in Queen Mary’s Crochet Bandeau), as well as the Countess of Harewood (in the Diamond Floral Tiara)
On the final evening, King Mahendra and Queen Ratna hosted a Return Banquet at the Nepalese Embassy in London for the Queen and members of the Royal Family.
Queen Elizabeth II in the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and her Brazilian Aquamarine Parure with the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya.
King Mahendra and Queen Ratna (in the Nepalese Diamond Tiara) with Princess Shanti (wearing her Diamond Tiara)
The Queen Mother wore the Oriental Circlet Tiara and Crown Ruby Parure with the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya.
Princess Margaret wore the Cartier Halo Tiara and her Poltimore Tiara as a Necklace.
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester wore the Iveagh Tiara.
Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent wore the Kent Festoon Tiara with the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra of Kent.
The Queen and Duke made a Return Visit to Nepal the following year, while the next Nepalese State Visit was in 1980.
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