Queen Mary’s Emerald Shamrock Brooch

Happy Birthday to Lady Gabriella Kingston, who turns 44 today! The accomplished writer and singer daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who is 57th in the Line of Succession and was sadly widowed a few years ago, Lady Gabriella notably wore Queen Mary’s Emerald Shamrock Brooch!

Kent City of London Fringe Tiara | Aquamarine Brooch | Queen Mary’s Emerald Shamrock Brooch

When Princess May of Teck married the Duke of York, the future King George V, in 1893, she received a series of spectacular gifts of jewellery from various parts of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, among which was this emerald and diamond trefoil brooch given by the Royal St George Yacht Club in Dublin (h/t to Beth at HFJCMB).

The jewel features a three-leafed shamrock outlined in diamonds, with a large diamond brilliant set in the center of the jewel. Inside the open leaves are a trio of emeralds on knife-edge settings.

The Duchess of York wore the Emerald Shamrock Brooch for several portraits, sometimes with her Celtic Knot Brooch, and on a few occasions, including a stay with the Marquess and Marchioness of Ormonde at Kilkenny Castle in Ireland in 1899.

Queen Mary also notably wore the Emerald Shamrock Brooch on a visit to Dublin in July 1911, the first after the Coronation of the King and Queen the previous month.

After Queen Mary’s death in 1953, the Emerald Shamrock Brooch was among the jewels inherited by her daughter-in-law, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, who notably wore it for Princess Alexandra’s 21st Birthday in 1957 and to announce the Engagement of the Duke of Kent in 1961.

After Princess Marina’s death in 1968, Queen Mary’s Emerald Shamrock Brooch was among the jewels left to her youngest son, Prince Michael, but was only ever seen on Princess Michael at Royal Ascot in 2011.

Then, most recently, Queen Mary’s Emerald Shamrock Brooch was worn by Lady Gabriella for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey in 2023, and lets hope we see it worn again soon!