The heart-shaped Cullinan V Diamond was set into this striking Brooch by Queen Mary, which was a lifelong favourite of the late Queen, and, after being temporarily set into her Crown, was worn by Queen Camilla for the first annual Garden Party of 2024 at Buckingham Palace.
The largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, weighing 3,106.75 carats (621.35 g), the Cullinan Diamond was discovered at the Premier No.2 mine in Cullinan, South Africa, on 26 January 1905, named after Thomas Cullinan, the mine’s chairman. In April 1905, it was put on sale in London, but despite considerable interest, it was still unsold after two years, when by 1907, the Transvaal Colony government bought the Cullinan Diamond and presented it to King Edward VII, who had it cut into three large parts by Asscher Brothers of Amsterdam, and several smaller fragments by Joseph Asscher; nine major stones and ninety-six smaller ones. Initially only Cullinans I and II were returned to the King, while the others remained in Amsterdam by arrangement as the fee for Asscher’s services, until the South African government bought them, except Cullinan VI, which Edward VII purchased for Queen Alexandra in 1907, and the High Commissioner for Southern Africa presented them to Queen Mary in 1910.
The 18.8 carat heart-shaped Cullinan V was set in the center of a brooch that formed a part of a stomacher made for Queen Mary to wear at the Delhi Durbar in 1911, along with the Delhi Durbar Tiara and the Cambridge Emerald Parure.
In 1914, the Cullinan V Brooch was also temporarily set into Queen Mary’s new Honeysuckle Tiara, worn for portraits soon after its completion.
Over the years, Queen Mary recently wore the Cullinan V Brooch for official portraits, including with her Fringe Tiara, occasionally hanging the Cullinan VI as a Pendant or making a larger Brooch by adding the Cullinan VIII on top.
Queen Mary continued to wear the Cullinan V in the Delhi Durbar Stomacher, usually with the Delhi Durbar Tiara and the Vladimir Tiara.
In 1937, Queen Mary wore put the Cullinan V Diamond in place of the crystal replica of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond in her Crown for the Coronation of her son, King George VI, in 1937.
On her death in 1953, Queen Mary left the Cullinan V Brooch to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, who wore it quite rarely in her younger years, preferring to wear it for more informal events rather than official occasions.
As the Queen got older, the Cullinan V Brooch began to be worn more frequently, not just for personal events but quite frequently for official occasions, like Royal Ascot and her annual Christmas Speech, as well as on Royal Tours.
The Cullinan V Brooch continued to be a favourite of the Queen in the latter years of her reign, being worn for the Wedding of Princess Eugenie, London Fashion Week, a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, the State Opening of Parliament in 2019, and the Global Investment Summit Reception at Windsor Castle, her last official engagement before her final illness.
The Cullinan V Brooch made an iconic final appearance on the Queen during her legendary tea with Paddington bear that was broadcast during the Platinum Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, just a few weeks before the Queen’s passing.
In 2023, the Cullinan V Brooch was set again into Queen Mary’s Crown in place of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, with which Queen Camilla was crowned during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey.
A year later, Queen Camilla wore the Cullinan V Brooch for the first annual Garden Party of 2024 at Buckingham Palace. There is no doubt we will continue to see this splendid heirloom worn again soon!
