The Queen Mother's Pearl of the Dee Brooch

The Queen Mother's Pearl of the Dee Brooch

As a gift to mark her 100th birthday, the Salmon and Trout Association commissioned this brooch for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from goldsmith Rachel Jeffrey. The design is based on a salmon fly and it includes a blue gray pearl at the top, a body of solid 19 carat gold with a lattice work in sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, wings small touches of yellow and white diamonds, and a tail of 18 carat gold. It cost a reported £2500 to make, and the color scheme was a tip of the hat to the birthday girl's racing colors, according to the designer's site. Considering The Queen Mother loved to fish when in Scotland, I'm sure it made her smile. And it made a few other people smile too, with a limited edition production of 100 brooches that sold quickly.

Official engagement photo

I don't know if Queen Elizabeth had a chance to wear it publicly before she passed away, but it would get a significant debut a few years later, appearing in the engagement photo of Camilla Parker-Bowles and The Prince of Wales, which was taken at Birkhall (Queen Elizabeth's home on the Balmoral Estate, now used by the couple). The new Duchess of Cornwall would also wear the brooch for the first royal engagement after her wedding, in Scotland on the couple's honeymoon (shown below).

View image | gettyimages.com

Knowing what we know now, the appearance of this brooch and that engagement ring were huge tips to what Camilla's jewel future held. They were just the first of many pieces from The Queen Mother's collection that we would see on The Duchess of Cornwall.

View image | gettyimages.com

As for this brooch, it hasn't had many outings since these early ones. She has also worn it to the Braemar Gathering, so it seems the Scottish connection is strong. And there's another strong connection for The Duchess too: the designer set her business up with the help of a loan from The Prince's Trust, started by The Prince of Wales. (By the way, the Braemar appearance shown above seems to be the first time she wore it properly. The first two appearances? Worn upside down. Oops.)

Photos: Rachel Jeffrey, Clarence House, and via Getty Images

The Multi-Color French Flower Brooch

The Multi-Color French Flower Brooch

During a state visit to France* in 2014, the Queen debuted what appears to be a new brooch: a spray of two flowers with different colors of metals and different colors of stones. The top flower has a white center (a cluster of diamonds, likely) with eight yellow petals (possibly yellow stones, set in yellow gold). The lower flower has cluster of pink-toned stones at its center and seven white petals, set in a silver-toned metal. The two gem-set leaves are set in a colored metal such as rose gold. The brooch could be composed of different colors of diamonds, or there could be different stones in use here. Its history is unknown at this time, though the date of debut could indicate a recent gift, possibly from the Diamond Jubilee or another anniversary.

*"French" is included in the brooch name here because of this first appearance, and not because of any known association in the provenance.

Appearances:
24 June 2015: State Visit to Germany, Day 1
23 July 2014: Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games
18 June 2014: Royal Ascot, Day Two
5 June 2014: State Visit to France, Embassy Reception

Photo: WPA Pool/Getty

The Australian Wattle Brooch

The Australian Wattle Brooch

During her Coronation tour of 1954, the Queen was presented with this brooch from the people and government of Australia. It depicts a spray of wattle (the national flower) with mimosa leaves and tea tree blossoms in white and colored diamonds. It's gotten a lot of use since that first tour, and sees outings even when the event is not directly related to Australia (something you can't say for many of her official gifts).

Read more at Order of Splendor.

Appearances:
25 December 2017: Christmas Service
11 July 2017: Audience at Buckingham Palace
13 March 2017: Commonwealth Day
26 June 2014: Buckingham Palace Garden Party
2011: Visit to Australia  
2011: State Visit to Ireland 
2006: Royal Ascot
2005: The Wedding of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall 
1986: 60th Birthday Balcony Appearance
1978, 2002: Royal Maundy Service 
Various Years: Chelsea Flower Show  
Various Years: Christmas Broadcast   

Photo: Royal Collection

The BJA Diamond Jubilee Brooch

The BJA Diamond Jubilee Brooch

The British Jewellers’ Association (BJA) presented the Queen with this brooch made of diamonds, platinum, and gold to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. A contest was held to select the brooch, and the winning design came from Ivonna Poplanska. According to the BJA:

"Her design entitled ‘The Eternal Dove’ is loosely based on the 'Sceptre with Dove’ an item in the Crown Jewels which, was made for the Coronation of King Charles 11 in 1661. The dove, which is in flight, encompasses four flowers –the shamrock, the daffodil, the thistle and the rose - chosen to represent the countries of the United Kingdom. These are made in rare Irish, Welsh, Scottish and English gold which has been donated by enthusiastic local prospectors. Natural coloured diamonds have been used to highlight these flowers. Entwined holly leaves also feature in the design symbolising unity, while the dove stands for peace. "

The materials and craftsmanship required to create the graceful brooch were donated, and the final product was presented to the Queen on December 5, 2012, and first worn on Christmas Day.

Click here for more information from the British Jewellers' Association.

Appearances:
25 December 2012: Christmas Service

Photo: BJA

The Williamson Diamond Brooch

The Williamson Diamond Brooch

This brooch takes its name from the fine pink diamond in the center, a wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth in 1947 from Dr. John Williamson. Dr. Williamson, a Canadian, owned the mine in Tanzania where the diamond was found. It was cut to its current 23.6 carat size and, in 1953, placed at the center of a brooch designed for it by Cartier in the shape of a jonquil. This is a personal favorite of mine, and I adore any time the Queen brings it out.

Read more at Order of Splendor.

Appearances:
5 June 2014: State Visit to France, Welcome Ceremony
9 November 2013: Festival of Remembrance
27 November 2012: State Visit from Kuwait, Welcoming Ceremony
2011: Royal Ascot
2010: Visit to Canada  
2009: G-20 Summit Reception
1998: Christmas Broadcast  
1961: Commonwealth Visit to India and Pakistan
1958: State Visit to the Netherlands 
1956: Royal Maundy Service

Photo: Royal Collection

The Pearl Triangle Brooch

The Pearl Triangle Brooch

The Pearl Triangle Brooch, so named after Leslie Field's description of it as an "unusual long narrow diamond triangle", includes two large pearls and a yellow diamond (difficult to pick out in most appearances) set in an ornate vertical diamond frame.

The brooch has been seen periodically from the beginning years of the Queen's reign. Its provenance is unknown though as with many of the brooches she's worn this long, pegging it as an inheritance or a gift is always a valid guess.

Appearances:
20 October 2018: British Champions Day at Royal Ascot
10 July 2018: Audience at Buckingham Palace
1 April 2018: Easter Service
14 February 2018: Audiences at Buckingham Palace
7 November 2017: Investiture at Buckingham Palace
12 October 2017: Audiences at Buckingham Palace
7 June 2017: Audience at Buckingham Palace
26 April 2017: Audience at Windsor Castle
25 October 2016: Investiture at Buckingham Palace
7 July 2016: Archers' Hall Portrait Unveiling
24 June 2016: Audiences at Buckingham Palace
10 January 2016: Church at Sandringham and Gallipoli Service
30 November 2015: Audience at Windsor Castle
29 October 2015: Audiences at Buckingham Palace
9 June 2015: Gurkha 200 Pageant
7 May 2014: Journalists' Charity Reception
4 March 2014: Music Trust Reception
21 February 2013: Audience at Buckingham Palace
31 May 2012: Audiences at Buckingham Palace
20 April 2012: Newbury Races 
14 February 2012: Charles Dickens Bicentennial Reception 
2006: Children's Party at the Palace 
2000: Order of Merit Presentation

Photos: Getty Images/British Pathe

The George IV State Diadem

The George IV State Diadem

Originally made for King George IV, this diadem has been worn by queens ever since. Also called simply the Diamond Diadem, it is a heavily symbolic piece which is worn by the Queen for her journey to and from the State Opening of Parliament and for some official portraits. Read more at Order of Splendor.

Appearances:
18 May 2016: State Opening of Parliament
27 May 2015: State Opening of Parliament 
26 March 2015: Canterbury Cathedral Statue 
2 March 2015: New Coinage Portrait
4 June 2014: State Opening of Parliament 
8 May 2013: State Opening of Parliament
9 May 2012: State Opening of Parliament
6 February 2012: Official Diamond Jubilee Portrait
1960: State Visit from France  
1953: The Coronation
All Years: State Opening of Parliament
The Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II