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101 years ago today the King and Queen of Italy was wrapping up their four-day State Visit to the United Kingdom. King Victor Emmanuel III and Queen Helen (Elena) had arrived via Dover on the 26th and after a few days of a very busy programme that included a State Banquet, a return dinner and a State Ball they were ready to leave London on the 29th.

I am trying to finish my blog page on the visit, which will be posted here:

https://regalevents913271078.wordpress.com/blog-2/the-united-kingdom/george-v/1924-italian-state-visit-to-the-united-kingdom/

Having come across some photos from the visit to the British Empire Exhibition on the morning of the third day I got drawn to the brooch worn by Queen Mary. Surely this cannot be one of the large Sapphires in the British collection? It looks a bit too pale for that. Does anybody recognise it at all?