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 Diamond Bar Brooches-
Queen Victoria often wore this two row Diamond Bar Brooch, featuring 10 round diamonds, which she used to secure her Sash of the Order of the Garter, and considered it a part of her Garter insignia, keeping it with the Star, likely having commissioned along with her other insignia from Rundell and Bridge in 1838.
The Diamond Bar Brooch was later worn by Queen Alexandra and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who frequently wore it to secure her Sash, and it passed to the Queen upon her death in 2002, though she has not yet been publicly seen wearing the piece.
The Queen has worn another Diamond Bar Brooch, featuring 14 diamonds, which may also come from Queen Victoria, but was pictured on Queen Mary. It passed to the Queen in 1953, and has been worn not only to secure her Garter Sash, but also worn as a regular brooch or on a tartan sash.
Queen Camilla wore one of the Diamond Bar Brooches to secure her sash of the Order of the Garter at the State Banquet for American President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Windsor Castle.
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
Embed from Getty Images
I cannot possible find this brooch among the incredible amount or jewelry Queen Alexandra is wearing! Queen Mary used to pile it on too, but Queen Alexandra wins, hands down! 🙂 It is a nice brooch, quite appropriate for the job of holding a sash in place.