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    Nikita Krushchev's gifts to the British Royal Family in 1956 Archived Message

    Posted by Arthur on November 4, 2014, 5:03 pm

    Last week, during her visit to Colombia, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, wore a beautiful brooch representing a lily-of-the-valley:


    Caption: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visits the Quinta Bolivar Garden on October 30, 2014 in Bogota, Colombia. The Royal Couple are on a four day visit to Colombia as part of a Royal tour to Colombia and Mexico. After fifty years of armed conflict in Colombia, the theme for the visit is Peace and Reconciliation (October 29, 2014 - Source: Chris Jackson/Getty Images Europe).


    Caption: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in a meeting with victims and campaigners against Sexual Violence at the Peace and Reconciliation Centre on October 30, 2014 in Bogota, Colombia. The Royal Couple are on a four day visit to Colombia as part of a Royal tour to Colombia and Mexico. After fifty years of armed conflict in Colombia the theme for the visit is Peace and Reconciliation (October 29, 2014 - Source: Chris Jackson/Getty Images Europe).


    This brooch has been identified as an heirloom from the Queen Mother, who had received it as a gift from Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev when he paid an official visit to London in 1956.

    Maridje had published in 2012 the full list of the lavish gifts presented by Khrushchev to the members of the Royal Family (including the 8 and 6-year-old Prince Charles and Princess Anne):
    http://members2.boardhost.com/royal-jewels/msg/archive/1342862292.html

    "For Queen Elizabeth, a diamond and sapphire brooch, a cape made of extra-high-quality sable furs, Aivazovsky’s painting “The Seashore”, and a casket with a portrait of the royal family.

    For the Duke of Edinburgh, an Akhal Teke horse with trappings, a casket with a portrait of the Queen, and a chest with a selection of wines.

    For Prince Charles, an Arabian horse with trappings, a set of illustrated Soviet children’s books, and an assortment of candies.

    For Princess Anne, a casket made by Palekh craftsmen (with scenes from Russian fairy tales), a set of illustrated Soviet children’s books, a three-month-old bear cub, and an assortment of candies.

    For Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, a gold Lily-of-the-Valley brooch with diamonds, a small box made of Ural semiprecious stones, and a sable cape.

    For Princess Margaret, a sable scarf and a diamond and sapphire brooch.    "

    Has anyone information about the sapphire and diamond brooches presented to Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret? Can these brooches be identified?

    And do you know if the Queen-Mother was ever seen publicly with the Lily-of-the-valley brooch? In my files, I have only pictures of Camilla wearing it (maybe the Soviet provenance of these jewels made the British Royals reluctant to wear these jewels, less than forty years after the horrible murder of "Cousin Nicky" and of the Russian Imperial Family?)

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