The Jardine Star Brooch

The Jardine Star Brooch

On the Queen's list of favorite brooches is a traditional model we call the Jardine Star. It features 8 diamond rays separated by a single collet which fan out from a central cluster of a large diamond 8 smaller stones.

What's known about this brooch's history comes from Leslie Field in The Queen's Jewels:

"In 1981 the Queen was left a late-Victorian diamond star brooch by Lady Jardine, which she has worn on many occasions. It has a collet diamond on a knife-wire between each of its eight points."

Further detail on who exactly Lady Jardine is and what her connection or motivation might have been to gift the Queen with this brooch is omitted. There are a few Jardine Baronetcies and the wives of the baronets would be titled Lady Jardine. A queen receiving a bequest of jewels from someone no matter the connection is not so unusual, of course; one example is the Greville bequest which provided many of the Queen Mother's favorite jewels.

The brooch in action, as the Queen addresses Parliament on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee

Princess Anne owns a similar piece, and there are plenty more star brooches out there that look like this one. Their all-purpose design never really goes out of style, as the Queen shows us regularly.

This entry was first posted at Order of Splendor.

Appearances:
13 June 2021: Visit from The President of the United States
4 November 2020: Centenary of the Burial of the Unknown Warrior
9 March 2020: Commonwealth Day
3 December 2019: Audience at Buckingham Palace
21 June 2019: Royal Ascot, Day 4
2 June 2019: Epsom Derby
28 March 2019: Visit to Somerset
11 November 2018: Armistice Centenary Service
29 July 2018: Church at Balmoral
10 July 2018: RAF Centenary
20 June 2018: Royal Ascot, Day 2
14 February 2018: Commonwealth Diaspora Reception
25 December 2017: Christmas Broadcast
30 November 2017: Visit to West Sussex
23 October 2017: HMS Sutherland Visit
7 July 2017: Royal Society of Edinburgh Visit
23 June 2017: Royal Ascot, Day 4
13 June 2017: Companions of Honour Centenary
18 October 2016: Team GB Reception
5 July 2016: Holyrood Week: Garden Party
18 June 2016: Royal Ascot, Day 5 
21 April 2016: The Queen's 90th Birthday Walkabout and Birthday Beacon Lighting
2016: Elizabeth at 90 - A Family Tribute (release date)
19 November 2015: Visit to Birmingham
10 July 2015: Battle of Britain Anniversary Flypast
20 May 2015: Buckingham Palace Garden Party
23 February 2015: Magna Carta Anniversary Reception
2 February 2015: King's Lynn Fire Station Opening 
20 November 2014: RAF Lossiemouth Visit
7 June 2014: Epsom Derby
10 April 2014: State Visit from Ireland, Northern Ireland Reception
14 November 2013: Visit to Manchester
5 July 2013: Holyrood Week, Day 5: Robin Chapel and Thistle Foundation
22 May 2013: Buckingham Palace Garden Party
2 May 2013: Defence Medical Rehabilitation Unit
31 March 2013: Easter Service
24 January 2013: Sandringham Women's Institute
20 October 2012: British Champions Day at Royal Ascot
18 July 2012: Visit to the North East, Day 1
3 June 2012: The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant
21 May 2012: Chelsea Flower Show
26 April 2012: Visit to South Wales, Day 1 
5 April 2012: Royal Maundy Service 
20 March 2012: Diamond Jubilee Address to Parliament
12 March 2012: Commonwealth Day Reception 
2011: Visit to Australia 
2009: Easter Service
2007: Commonwealth Day Observance Service
2006: Christmas Service 
2006, 2008, 2011: Royal Ascot
2003, 2005, 2011: Royal Maundy Service  
2001, 2006: Chelsea Flower Show   
Various Years: Christmas Broadcast


Photos: Corbis/Polfoto