Going through my files of QEII brooches I found my no 157, a pictures of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, b & w pic, of the young girls at the post office handling cash - saving bonds- and Princess Elizabeth wearing a large insect brooch.
It is not like either of those worn by Queen Camilla.
During the past recent days, Queen Camilla wore for the first time several brooches from the royal collection, coming from Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Mary and Queen Alexandra. I am glad that the Queen is digging into the vaults of the royal collection, and that she gives a public appearance to rarely-seen jewels from the royal collection!
27th February, 2024: Thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine II of Greece at Saint Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle - Queen Camilla wore for the first time the Greville Diamond Ivy brooches:
11th March, 2024: Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey - Queen Camilla wore for the first time an aquamarine and diamond brooch from Queen Alexandra (see the recent thread about this brooch on this board):
20 March, 2004: Visit to the Isle of Man - Queen Camilla wore Prince Albert Sapphire Brooch (not actually a first for Queen Camilla, as she has already worn this brooch, but it is great to see her donning such a historic heirloom):
And a good close-up:
27th March, 2024: Visit to Shrewsbury - Queen Camilla simultaneously wore two different brooches depicting a bumblebee and another insect. I vaguely remember an old black-and-white picture of the young Queen Elizabeth II (then probably still Princess Elizabeth) wearing what could be the same bumblebee brooch, but unfortunately I can't find this picture.
Fortunately, the media gave us good close-ups of these brooches!
28th March, 2024: Royal Maundy Service at Worcester Cathedral - Queen Camilla pinned on her coat Queen Elizabeth II's pair of gold, sapphire and diamond clips. According to Leslie Field ( The Queen's Jewels , 1987), these brooches were bought separately in 1942 and 1945 by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth for their daughter Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) who wore them occasionally throughout her life (here on 15th October, 1951 in Canada, and on 22nd February, 1996 in London).
31st April, 2024: Easter service at Saint Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle - Queen Camilla wore Queen Mary's Emerald, Sapphire and Diamond Brooch (which I personally nickname the "rose-window brooch", due to its singular design, which reminds me the intricate architecture of rose windows in gothic churches). Queen Elizabeth wore occasionally this brooch, which she had inherited from Queen Mary.
This brooch had been worn in August 1908 by Queen Mary (then still Princess of Wales) for a summer gathering with the Russian imperial family in Osborne (the brooch is visible on Queen Mary's collar):
Queen Elizabeth II wearing the same brooch on 17th May, 1997, at the Royal Windsor Horse Show:
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