Such sad news about Prince Philip. It's been moving to read so many tributes this weekend and see wonderful images of his 99 years. I'm adding to that in a very small way with this photo — passed down to me by my grandfather Jean-Jacques Cartier, who stands in the background in the glasses — of one of the Duke of Edinburgh's visits to Cartier London many decades ago.
He was, those who worked at 175 New Bond Street at the time recalled, a very special visitor — and not just because he was part of the royal family. He was so genuinely interested in the design and craftsmanship that went into the pieces.
So passionate was Prince Philip about design that in 1956 he started his own award, the Prize for Elegant Design (now known as the Prince Philip Designers Prize), to encourage innovative design in the difficult years of post-war Britain. It became the longest-running design prize in history. He also designed several items of jewellery for his wife, the Queen.
This photo was taken in the English Art Works workshop on the 3rd floor of 175 New Bond Street. There are other photos of the royal visits to Cartier London — including those taken in the smart showroom on the ground floor — but I love this one because I think it speaks volumes.
For Prince Philip, a visit to Cartier wasn't simply about seeing the latest jewels; he wanted to really understand how they were created upstairs in the workshop and to speak to the talented designers and craftsmen behind the scenes.
