Queen Victoria's 11 Pearl Brooch

Queen Victoria's 11 Pearl Brooch

Queen Victoria owned this brooch of 11 large pearls: 8 in an elaborate diamond setting of a diamond shape with three as pendants. I use the number in the name because those pearls are so instantly distinctive (and to differentiate it from the other well-known diamond and pearl brooch of Victoria's, the Diamond Jubilee brooch). This is one of the items Victoria designated as heirlooms of the Crown.

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother

There are a few of those heirlooms that the Queen Mother particularly enjoyed and hung on to after her daughter acceded the throne (Victoria's Crown rubies, for example). This is one, and she wore it during her husband's reign and for the rest of her life.

It passed to the current queen in 2002, and she waited until her 2009 Christmas broadcast to debut it publicly. Recently, it has had an increased amount of outings, so perhaps it has finally gained some favor with the Queen - only fitting, as she does love her pearls.

Appearances:
14 July 2020: Call With Members of the Armed Forces
14 May 2017: Royal Windsor Horse Show
25 December 2016: Christmas Broadcast, 2016
2 December 2016: Investiture at Windsor Castle
7 October 2016: Investiture at Windsor Castle
25 February 2016: Audience at Buckingham Palace
27 October 2015: Commonwealth Organizations Reception
22 June 2015: Queen's Young Leaders Awards
10 June 2015: Presentation of The Queen's Truncheon
17 May 2015: Royal Windsor Horse Show
13 March 2015: Afghanistan Service of Commemoration
13 June 2014: Audience at Buckingham Palace
17 May 2014: Royal Windsor Horse Show 
26 January 2014: Church at Sandringham
8 November 2013: SSAFA Opening
7 May 2013: Temple Church Organ Rededication
13 February 2013: Investiture at Buckingham Palace
14 November 2012: Royal Commonwealth Society
2009: Christmas Broadcast 

Photos: Bauer Griffin/Corbis