Today marks the anniversary of the birth of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, who was born on this day in 1900. While we have featured many of her jewels over the years, including her Tiaras, Coronation Rivière, Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Necklace, Irish Guards Brooch, and Maple Leaf Brooch, today, we are featuring the Queen Mother’s Sapphire Fringe Earrings-
Each composed of a large sapphire framed by diamonds, from which diamond fringes are suspended, in a late Art Deco design. The origin of the Earrings is unknown but the stones may have come from a sapphire demi-parure given to the Queen Mother as a wedding gift from Queen Mary in 1923.
These Sapphire and Diamond Earrings appeared on the Queen Mother from the 1950s, being worn for a handful of performances and concerts over the following decades.
The Queen Mother continued to wear her Sapphire Fringe Earrings for some events into the the 1990s, often paired with Queen Mary’s Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch.
After her death, the Queen Mother’s Sapphire Fringe Earrings were inherited by the late Queen but remained unworn until they appeared on the then Duchess of Cambridge at the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2015.
A few years later, the Duchess of Cambridge wore the Sapphire Fringe Earrings with the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara for the American State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2019.
The Queen Mother’s Sapphire Fringe Earrings were notably worn by the Duchess for her first Together At Christmas Community Carol Service at Westminster Abbey in 2021.
The Princess of Wales wore the Queen Mother’s Sapphire Fringe Earrings at the Reception for Foreign Royalty and Heads of State at Buckingham Palace on the eve of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
A few days later, the Princess of Wales again wore the Queen Mother’s Sapphire Fringe Earrings as she made a surprise cameo during the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest grand finale. There is no doubt we will continue to see these heirlooms for years to come!
Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
King George VI Festoon Necklace
The Queen’s Japanese Pearl Choker
The Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace
The Greville Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace
Queen Mary’s Art Deco Emerald Choker
Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Necklace
Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Suite
Greville Diamond Chandelier Earrings 
Queen’s Silver Jubilee Earrings
Princess Diana’s Sapphire Earrings
The Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch
Queen Mary’s Diamond Choker Bracelet
Princess Diana’s Sapphire Engagement Ring
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The earrings feature large sapphires surrounded by diamonds, from which diamond fringes are suspended, in an Art Deco design. The Queen Mother started wearing these earrings sometime around the 1960s, during her widowhood, though the stones may have come from a sapphire demi-parure given to her as a wedding gift from Queen Mary. The earrings continued to be worn, quite sparsley, until the 1990s, often paired with the Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch.
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After her death, the Queen Mother’s Sapphire Fringe Earrings were inherited by the Queen but remained unworn until they appeared on the Duchess of Cambridge at the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2015, and were worn more recently at the American State Banquet, when they complemented her new sash of the Royal Victorian Order. The earrings were also worn for the Together At Christmas Community Carol Service at Westminster Abbey. There is no doubt we will continue to see these earrings for years to come.
