Queen Victoria’s Pearl Earrings

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 Pearl Earrings-

Queen Victoria received these pearl drop earrings, featuring a large pear-shaped pearl suspended from two diamonds, which she wore with a round pearl, from her husband, Prince Albert in 1847, using diamond studs from royal collection. The earrings were left to the Crown upon her death in 1901, “to be worn by future Queens in right of it”.

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While Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth were not known to wear large earrings, Queen Victoria’s Pearl Earrings became favourites of Queen Elizabeth II soon after her accession, most notably worn for her first and last (as of yet) State Opening of Parliament, and have been regularly worn throughout her reign, usually for portraits and the annual Order of the Garter Service, paired with Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace.

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