This month, we are marking the Bicentenary of the Birth of Queen Victoria by featuring her Top 20 Jewels, one for each decade since the Birth of 2nd-longest reigning British Monarch, in the 20 days leading up to the Anniversary itself, and today’s feature is her Golden Jubilee Necklace-

To celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887, a committee of ladies raised money for a commemorative statue of her late husband Prince Albert, and the fundraising was so successful that they ended up raising far more than was required and decided that the funds should go to the St. Katherine’s Fund for Nurses, while others wanted to purchase a necklace for the Queen, both plans were approved by the Queen, but there was opposition, and the idea of a smaller jewelled badge was shot by the Queen saying she would “at once exchange it for another jewel.”

Eventually, Queen Victoria received this Diamond and Pearl Necklace from Carrington & Co, for £5000 in 1888, composed of:

eight graduated brilliant-set trefoil links, 12 smaller links and a snap, each centred by a graduated pearl, the crowned quatrefoil centre with pearl drop; the centre and six flanking links detachable for use as brooches or pins … the necklace reduced by two small links at a later date.”

At Osborne House, on 30th July 1888, the Duchess of Buccleuch presented the set to Queen Victoria in a red leather presentation box. Inscribed on the box was a message that reads:

To Victoria Queen & Empress A Token of Love & Loyalty from the Daughters of Her Empire in remembrance of Her Jubilee June 21st 1887”

Queen Victoria wore her Diamond and Pearl Necklace for a series of portraits soon afterwards and reportedly ‘became very attached to the necklace’, which she left to the Crown upon her death in 1901.

While Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace was not worn over the next few decades, recently unearthed pictures of Queen Mary show her wearing the central element of the Golden Jubilee Necklace as a Brooch and the smaller elements on her hat.

Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace was seen again on the late Queen Elizabeth II at the State Opening of Parliament in 1952, paired with George IV State Diadem and Queen Victoria’s Pearl Earrings.

Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace became a favourite of the Queen in the 1950s, being often worn with Vladimir Tiara as well as the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara.

In the mid-1960s, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace was replicated, without the Crown element, for the Queen’s cousin, Princess Alexandra of Kent, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, whose Necklace can also be worn with turquoises.

Over the following decades, the Queen frequently wore Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace with the Duchess of Gloucester’s Pendant Earrings and the Vladimir Tiara on countless occasions, becoming one of her most iconic pieces of jewellery.

However, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace made only a few rare appearances on the Queen in the last decade of her life, being  worn with the Vladimir Tiara, but more frequently with the George IV State Diadem, like for the State Opening of Parliament in 2016, which was the last time the Necklace was publicly worn, but lets hope it will be worn again soon!

Imperial State Crown

George IV State Diadem

Queen Victoria’s Regal Circlet

Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara

Queen Victoria’s Sapphire Coronet

Queen Victoria’s Emerald Tiara

Queen Victoria’s Strawberry Leaf Tiara

Queen Victoria’s Sunray Fringe Tiara

Queen Adelaide’s Fringe

Queen Victoria’s Small Diamond Crown

Queen Charlotte’s Nuptial Crown

Coronation Necklace and Earrings

Queen Victoria’s Turkish Diamond Necklace

Prince Albert’s Sapphire Brooch

Koh-i-Noor Diamond

Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch

Queen Victoria’s Bow Brooches

Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace

Queen Victoria’s Pearl Earrings

Queen Victoria’s Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Chain

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bracelet

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Brooch

Queen Victoria’s Wheat Ear Brooches

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bar Brooches

Queen Victoria’s 11 Pearl Brooch

Queen Victoria’s Crown Ruby Brooch

Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch

Royal Order of Victoria and Albert

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To celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887, a committee of ladies raised money for a commemorative statue of her late husband Prince Albert, and the fundraising was so successful that they ended up raising far more than was required and decided that the funds should go to the St. Katherine’s Fund for Nurses, while others wanted to purchase a necklace for the Queen, both plans were approved by the Queen, but there was opposition, and a replacement badge was shot by the Queen saying she would “at once exchange it for another jewel.” Eventually, Queen Victoria received this diamond and pearl necklace from Carrington & Co, for £5000 in 1888, which she left to the Crown upon her death.

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While Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace wasn’t pictured on Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth, it became an early favourite of the Queen after her accession, most notably worn for her first and last (as of yet) State Opening of Parliament, and has been regularly worn throughout her reign. A replica of the Necklace was also given to her cousin, Princess Alexandra, by her husband, the Hon. Angus Ogilvy.