Earlier today, we were invited to the preview of the highly anticipated ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style’ Exhibition in the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, which opens to the public tomorrow. While we will have a full article on the exhibit later, we are first featuring all the Jewels from the late Queen on display in the exhibition marking the centenary of her birth!
While more traditional jewels associated with the late Queen were on display in the Platinum Jubilee Exhibition and the Edwardians: Age of Elegance Exhibition last year, this exhibition has an emphasis on the jewels Queen either commissioned or received, as well as some heirlooms she wore on some of the most notable occasions.
The exhibition begins in chronological order, and the first jewel on display is the silver-gilt Coronet worn by Princess Elizabeth for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937.
Right across the Coronet is the Queen’s stunning Norman Hartnell Wedding Gown topped with Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara and the Queen Anne and Queen Caroline Pearl Necklaces worn by the Queen on her Wedding Day, after the Tiara had been hastily repaired and the necklace was retried just minutes before the bride departed the Palace.
In the next room is the main display of jewels, which features the magnificent Burmese Ruby Tiara, which was created for the late Queen in the 1970s from a set of 96 Rubies given as a wedding gift from the people of Burma as well as the Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara, and is now worn by Queen Camilla.
Commissioned by Queen Elizabeth In 1971, the tiara incorporates ninety-six rubies, which were originally set in a necklace given to Princess Elizabeth as a wedding present in 1947 by the People of Burma.
Beside it is the Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara, which was acquired by the late Queen in 1956 and altered in 1971.
Purchased by Queen Elizabeth I in 1956 and altered in 1971. The tiara incorporates some of the aquamarines presented to the Queen by the President and People of Brazil as a Coronation gift in 1953.
In the alcoves are some of the Queen’s iconic outfits displayed with their jewels, which include Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace and the Duchess of Gloucester’s Pendant Earrings worn on the British State Visit to the United States in 1957.
Also on display is the gown worn for the Wedding of Princess Margaret in 1960, alongside Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Brooch and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Wedding Gift Bracelet, which we featured earlier today.
Back at the main display, the Queen’s South African Diamond Necklace and Bracelet, which was a gift from the people of South Africa on her 21st Birthday in 1947.
There is also a selection of brooches on display, which include the Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch, the Australian Wattle Brooch and the New Zealand Fern Brooch, and the Flower Basket Brooch, alongside the Bracelet given by the Duke of Edinburgh on their fifth Wedding Anniversary!
On the opposite side is the Queen’s Grenadier Guards Brooch along with a Bead Necklace and a Cartier Sapphire and Diamond Bracelet which was displayed in 2022 and Cartier last year, alongside a Bead Necklace dating from around 1930 and aa gift from an Afghan Official.
A little preview of some of the stunning gowns on display!
That blue bead necklace, does anyone know anything about it? It’s new to me.