Queen Camilla’s Diamond Serpent Necklace

Over the past few weeks, Queen Camilla has frequently worn a striking jewel, which has been in her collection for over two decades but has reappeared after a period of a few years, her spectacular Diamond Serpent Necklace!

A striking diamond necklace in the shape of a serpent set with round and square-cut diamonds, with two delicate rubies in place of the serpent’s eyes. A serpent is symbol of unbroken and everlasting love, which would make it a fitting piece for a Queen who had a turbulent, decades-long love story. The provenance of the necklace is unknown and while it has been suggested to be an heirloom from her own family, the necklace was more likely a gift from the then Prince of Wales.

The plot thickens! 🐍

The search for the diamond serpent necklace recently led me to a Fabergé cigarette case in the Royal collection presented to King Edward VII in 1908 by Alice Keppel, Queen Camilla's great-great-grandmother.

"A symbol of unbroken and everlasting love..." https://t.co/VKjVYcdBJF pic.twitter.com/VpKGfhBn8M
— no context queen camilla 💙 (@nocontxtcamilla) December 2, 2023

UPDATE: Some additional findings from No Context Queen Camilla, reveal a Fabergé Cigarette Case given to King Edward VII, the great-great-grandfather of the King, by his mistress Mrs Keppel, the great-grandmother of Queen Camilla.

One can also spot a Diamond Serpent Bracelet worn by the then Camila Shand for her Wedding to Andrew Parker Bowles at the Guards Chapel in 1973, along with the Cubitt-Shand Tiara. Since that shares many elements with this necklace, and the two have never been worn together, it is possible that it is an earlier heirloom that can be worn as both a bracelet and a necklace.

The Diamond Serpent Necklace was debuted by the then Camilla Parker-Bowles when she joined the Prince of Wales for The Prince’s Foundation Gala Dinner in London in June 2000.

Almost exactly a year later, Camilla Parker-Bowles was wearing her Diamond Serpent Necklace again when she joined the Prince of Wales for a Fashion Show and Gala at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire in Aid of the Macmillan Cancer Relief Charity.

Camilla Parker-Bowles also wore the Diamond Serpent Necklace at a Party hosted by the Queen to mark her Golden Jubilee Year in 2002, for a Concert and Fashion Show in Aid of The Princes’ Trust Charity at the Royal Albert Hall in 2003, a Gala at Covent Garden, and the Premiere of ‘Merchant Of Venice’ in 2004.

The following year, the newlywed Duchess of Cornwall paired the Diamond Serpent Necklace with the Delhi Durbar Tiara for the splendid State Banquet during the Norwegian Official Visit to Britain.

The Diamond Serpent Necklace was also worn a week later, for a State Dinner at the White House, during the couple’s first joint visit to the United States.

The Duchess of Cornwall wore the Diamond Serpent Necklace on several official visits, including a visit to Egypt in 2006, in Colombia in 2014, and Croatia in 2016, alternating between the Serpent Necklace, her Modern Diamond Suite, and her Turquoise Suite as well as some rarely seen modern jewels, though appearances became quite rare by the mid 2010s.

The Diamond Serpent Necklace was also worn by the Duchess for several events at home, including a gala dinner and theatrical performance for supporters of the Royal Film Performance of Hugo in 2013, the Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts at Buckingham Palace in 2011, the 250th Anniversary Dinner of The Board of Deputies of British Jews in 2011, Man Booker Prize in 2014, the British Asian Trust Dinner in 2015, and the British Asian Trust Dinner at Buckingham Palace in 2018.

After a gap of several years, the now Queen Camilla has begun wearing the Diamond Serpent Necklace again recently, with it reappearing for the State Banquet hosted by President Ruto and the First Lady in honour of King Charles and Queen Camilla at State House in Nairobi, during their State Visit to Kenya.

A few days later, Queen Camilla wore the Diamond Serpent Necklace to attend the annual Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Earlier this week, Queen Camilla wore the Diamond Serpent Necklace again, as she presided over the biennial Rifles Regiment Awards Dinner at the Guildhall in London. There is no doubt we will continue to see the Necklace worn regularly for years to come!