This month, we have been 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 Diamond Fringe Brooch-
In 1856, Queen Victoria ordered a large Diamond Chaine de Corsage from the Crown Jeweller, Garrard, using diamonds from an ornament given by Ottoman Sultan Abdul Mejid I, likely after the Crimean War. All that now remains is a large emerald-cut diamond, surrounded by 12 large brilliants, from which nine graduated pampilles are suspended.
Queen Victoria famously wore the original diamond chaine de corsage for an iconic Winterhalter Portrait with the George IV State Diadem, but set it away after Prince Albert’s death, thinking it too grand for mourning.
In 1870, Queen Victoria had the large Diamond Chaine de Corsage partially dismantled, the diamonds being reset into her Small Diamond Crown, with the remaining Brooch worn for portraits well into her old age.
Unlike other jewels, that were left to the Crown, Queen Victoria’s Diamond Fringe Brooch was inherited directly by her eldest son, King Edward VII, and was often worn by Queen Alexandra during her husband’s reign and in her widowhood, including for the State Opening of Parliament in 1901 and the Wedding of Prince Arthur of Connaught and her granddaughter, Princess Alexandra, Duchess of Fife, in 1913.
After Queen Alexandra’s death in 1925, Queen Victoria’s Diamond Fringe Brooch passed to Queen Mary, who wore it for a few rare portraits in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
In 1936, Queen Victoria’s Diamond Fringe Brooch was among the jewels handed over by Queen Mary to the new Queen Elizabeth, for whom it soon became a favourite, being worn on numerous occasions with Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara and the Teck Diamond Hoop Tiara.
The Queen Mother retained Queen Victoria’s Diamond Fringe Brooch after being widowed in 1952, and continued to don it on the most important occasions, like the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and the Wedding of Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.
The Queen Mother retained the Brooch until her death in 2002, when it was finally inherited by the Queen, who first wore the Fringe Brooch for a Turkish State Banquet, an appropriate choice given the provenance of the diamonds.
In 2014, the Queen wore the Fringe Brooch for the D-Day 70th Anniversary celebration which may have been a tribute to the late Queen Mother, who played an important role during the Second World War. Now, we hope to see this magnificent royal heirloom worn by Queen Camilla 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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In 1856, Queen Victoria ordered a large diamond chaine de corsage from Garrard, using diamonds from an ornament given by Ottoman Sultan Abdul Mejid I of Turkey, which she had partially dismantled in 1870 (the diamonds being set into her Small Diamond Crown that year), and what remained was a large emerald-cut diamond, surrounded by 12 large brilliants, suspending nine graduated pampilles.
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Queen Victoria famously wore the original diamond chaine de corsage for a Winterhalter, but set it away after Prince Albert’s death, thinking it too grand for mourning. However, after it was remodeled, Queen Victoria wore the Fringe Brooch for portraits well into her old age.
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Unlike other jewels, that were left to the Crown, Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch was inherited directly by her eldest son, King Edward VII, and often worn by Queen Alexandra during her husband’s reign and in her widowhood. After her death in 1925, the Fringe Brooch passed to Queen Mary, who wore it very rarely.
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In 1936, Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch was among the jewels handed over by Queen Mary to the new Queen Elizabeth, for whom it became a favourite, being worn for daytime and evening events, at her bodice and on her shoulder. Important appearences included the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and the Wedding of Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. The Queen Mother retained the Brooch until her death in 2002.
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Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch was inherited by the Queen, and was first worn for a Turkish State Banquet, an appropriate choice given the provenance of the diamonds. In 2014, the Queen wore the Fringe Brooch for the D-Day 70th Anniversary celebration which may have been a tribute to the late Queen Mother, who played an important role during World War II. With the Queen scheduled to attend the 75th Anniversary events next month, we may hopefully see the brooch again very soon.
This is one scrumptious brooch! Its design is very pleasing. It is very grand, but not overwhelming at the same time. I’m very glad that it was modified from its original configuration because that was bit over the top. If left as a chaine de corsage it would have probably ended up consigned to the vaults.