15 luxurious brooches that Queen Elizabeth II loves to wear and their stories

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Elizabeth II is still reputed to be a great fashionista and lover of brooches. When she goes out, she complements her every costume with this carefully selected aristocratic accessory. And the queen has plenty to choose from - after all, there are about a hundred brooches in her casket. Let's admire at least some of the royal collection of heirlooms.

1. Brooch "Cullinan V" or "Brooch of the heart"

Elizabeth is very fond of this brooch. In the center of it shines an 18.8-carat heart-shaped diamond, one of the largest shards of the legendary Cullinan diamond. Elizabeth became the owner of this diamond in 1953, after her coronation, before that it belonged to the English Queen Mary of Teck.

2. Brooch "Cullinan III and IV" ("Small stars of Africa")

The grandchildren call this grandmother's brooch, which she also inherited from Queen Mary, affectionately called “Granny’s Chips”. Indeed, the diamonds of this brooch are shaped like chips. The upper diamond is square-cut and weighs 63.6 carats, and the lower, pear-shaped, is even larger - 94.44. Once they were also shards of the Cullinan diamond.

3. Brooch "Cullinan VI and VIII"

And this brooch is made up of shards of Cullinan. One of the diamonds was a gift from Edward VII to his wife, and the other went to Queen Mary from the leaders of the Union of South Africa.

4. Cambridge emerald brooches

Once upon a time, Queen Mary's grandmother was lucky enough to win 40 unique precious stones - emeralds in the lottery. Later they were used to make a whole collection of jewelry. Elizabeth especially loved two brooches: one with a square emerald and diamond curls, and the other with a round cabochon emerald. Both brooches are also complemented by emerald pendants.

5. Prince Albert's sapphire brooch

Heavenly sapphire and a dozen diamonds around it … This magnificent brooch was presented to his beloved Victoria by Prince Albert the day before their wedding. And Elizabeth II became its owner immediately after her coronation in 1953.

6. Brooch of Empress Maria Feodorovna

A large sapphire-cabochon, diamonds are arranged in two rows around it … A large teardrop-shaped pearl is used as a pendant. This brooch was presented to the princess of the Danish kingdom Dagmar by her brother and sister.

In 1866, Dagmar married Tsarevich Alexander (later Alexander III) and moved to Russia, becoming Empress Maria Feodorovna there since 1881. After the revolution, she had to go back to Europe, while she managed to take out some of her jewelry, including this brooch. In 1929, the daughter of Maria Feodorovna, Princess Xenia, was forced to sell most of her mother's jewelry. So the brooch, along with other jewelry, ended up in the collection of the English Queen Mary of Teck.

7. Queen Victoria's ruby brooch

In addition to diamonds, this brooch includes two very large rubies, oval and teardrop-shaped.

8. Williamson's flower brooch

In 1947, the owner of the mine from Canada, John Williamson, presented Elizabeth with a wedding gift - one of the most beautiful pink diamonds in the world, weighing 26.3 carats. And in 1953, jewelers created a wonderful brooch in the shape of a flower, the center of which was this unique diamond.

9. Brooch "Star of Jardine"

This antique brooch was presented to Elizabeth by her lady-in-waiting, Lady Jardine. A star with eight rays with a large diamond in the center is encrusted with 66 diamonds.

ten. Brooch "Matte Sunflower"

The brooch is more reminiscent of a dahlia, therefore its second name is “Golden Dahlia.” A large diamond is placed in the center of the flower, surrounded by nine more smaller ones, pear-shaped. The flower petals are made of matte gold, and each also has a diamond on it.

11. Brooch-fringe "Waterfall"

This is an antique brooch made in 1856. At first, Queen Victoria was its owner, then her son, Edward VII, and, accordingly, his wife Alexandra. In the center of this magnificent brooch is a large diamond surrounded by twelve smaller ones. And down from them fall, streaming and sparkling, nine pendants, each of which is strewn with small diamonds …

12. Brooch "Love Knot"

There are several diamond brooches in the collection of Elizabeth, made in the form of a bow, but this is the largest of them. In addition, it differs from other bows in that its ends are not rigidly fixed, but can move, like a real bow. This brooch was inherited by Elizabeth, like many others, from Queen Mary in 1953. It was this brooch that Elizabeth considered appropriate to wear at the wedding of her grandson William and Kate in 2011. She has a very suitable name for such an occasion!

13. Brooch "Maple Leaf"

George VI presented this exquisite diamond maple leaf to Queen Mary in anticipation of his visit to Canada. And Elizabeth II, who inherited this brooch when visiting Canada in 1951, also wore it. And in 2011, with the permission of Elizabeth, Catherine used this diamond shamrock during their Canadian tour with William.

The Queen's collection of brooches includes not only those inherited by her, there are also her personal gifts among them. And, of course, those that she inherited from her parents are especially dear to her.

14. Aquamarine brooches-clips

These two pairs of brooches are styled after the "W", which begins the name of the royal family - Windsor. Elizabeth and George VI presented them to their daughter for her 18th birthday. It was in 1944.

15. Brooch "Flower basket"

And four years later, in the fall of 1948, her parents presented Elizabeth with another brooch. A pleasant reason for this was the birth of her first child, and their grandson, Prince Charles. For their daughter, the royal couple chose a brooch in the form of a flower basket made of multi-colored precious stones - diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies.

BONUS

And here are many, many royal brooches …

Can't hide admiration when you see exquisite diadems and tiaras from the collection of the "First Lady of Europe" Her Majesty Elizabeth II … And their stories are no less fascinating.