Train to Sandringham

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh traveled to Sandringham for the Christmas holiday.

Embed from Getty Images

For more: BBC article, Express article.

Christmas time is really here when Her Maj heads off to Sandringham, and this year, she's done so with a bonus brooch delight! I have simply called this one the "Small Aquamarine Brooch" here (my creativity knows no bounds); it's actually a pretty big stone from a side view, but it has a knack for appearing small when worn. This is more of a rare pick, and the second time we've seen it in use since the blog started.

Small Aquamarine Brooch

Queen Mary's Button Earrings

Three Strand Pearl Necklace

Photo: via Getty Images

The Small Aquamarine Brooch

The Small Aquamarine Brooch

The aquamarines worn most often by the Queen have become quite well known - the Aquamarine Clip Brooches, and the pieces of the Brazilian Aquamarine Parure - but they aren't the only aqua jewels in the collection. This aquamarine brooch contains a rectangular aquamarine stone surrounded by a delicate diamond laurel wreath, described in Leslie Field's The Queen's Jewels as "two curved diamond branches".

Unfortunately, that diamond detail disappears when worn on a patterned fabric as the Queen has done. The brooch also looks much larger when seen from the side or on video, when its depth is revealed. But when worn on a patterned fabric, as The Queen has done in some of the recent outings of this brooch (and there are not many, as this is a rare one), it can appear small.

Appearances:
17 December 2015: Train to Sandringham
23 October 2013: Diamond Jubilee Trust Reception

Photos: Abaca/PA/ITNSource

Diamond Jubilee Trust Reception

The Queen, with other members of the Royal Family, attended a reception for the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust at Buckingham Palace.

The royal wheel doesn't stop turning, not even for a christening! This evening there was a reception to attend and a (new to the blog!) brooch to wear. (Apparently the jolly mood continued on, though - click here for a cute article and video.)

UPDATE: Click here for a video from ITNSource, which proves that this brooch may look small, but is actually quite a hefty little rock!

Small Aquamarine Brooch

Queen Mary's Button Earrings

Three Strand Pearl Necklace

Photo: PA/ITNSource