![Queen Elizabeth II arrives to mark the completion of London's Crossrail project at Paddington Station on May 17, 2022 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-0518-01-elizabeth01.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The Queen made a surprise appearance in London on Tuesday to open a passenger service line named in her honor, wearing a brooch she’s worn and loved for the past ten years.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reacts during her visit to Paddington Station in London on May 17, 2022, to mark the completion of London's Crossrail project, ahead of the opening of the new 'Elizabeth Line' rail service next week](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-0518-01-elizabeth02.jpg?resize=1200%2C1814&ssl=1)
The Queen arrived at Paddington Station in London on Tuesday morning to officially open the Elizabeth Line, a passenger rail service that runs from Reading and Heathrow Airport to Abbey Wood and Shenfield. The line has been under construction for more than a decade, and it will open to the public next week.
![Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (R) mark the Elizabeth line's official opening at Paddington Station on May 17, 2022 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-0518-01-elizabeth03.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The Queen was accompanied by her youngest son, the Earl of Wessex, for the visit to the station.
![Queen Elizabeth II unveils a plaque to mark the Elizabeth line's official opening at Paddington Station on May 17, 2022 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-0518-01-elizabeth04.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
The Queen’s appearance at the official opening ceremony wasn’t announced ahead of time. As she arrived, Buckingham Palace told the press, “In a happy development, Her Majesty The Queen is attending today’s event to mark the completion of the Elizabeth line. Her Majesty was aware of the engagement and the organisers were informed of the possibility she may attend.” She unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.
![Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex uses an oyster card to go through barriers to ride on a Elizabeth Line train to mark the completion of London's Crossrail project at Paddington Station on May 17, 2022 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-0518-01-elizabeth05.jpg?resize=1200%2C1667&ssl=1)
The Earl of Wessex filled in for his mother during the more physically demanding portions of the engagement, touring a train on the new line.
![Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex talks to driver Carinne Spinola in the cab of a Elizabeth Line train to mark the completion of London's Crossrail project at Paddington Station on May 17, 2022 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-0518-01-elizabeth06.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Here, he chats with Carinne Spinola, driver of an Elizabeth line train.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reacts during her visit to Paddington Station in London on May 17, 2022, to mark the completion of London's Crossrail project, ahead of the opening of the new 'Elizabeth Line' rail service next week](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-0518-01-elizabeth07.jpg?resize=1200%2C1798&ssl=1)
For the opening, the Queen wore a sunny yellow coat and matching hat with tan and blue floral embellishments.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reacts during her visit to Paddington Station in London on May 17, 2022, to mark the completion of London's Crossrail project, ahead of the opening of the new 'Elizabeth Line' rail service next week](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-0518-01-elizabeth08.jpg?resize=1200%2C1799&ssl=1)
The coat’s buttons have gold detailing, and the Queen wore a gold and diamond brooch to coordinate: the Bird of Paradise Jubilee Brooch. She paired the brooch with her usual pearl and diamond earrings and three-stranded pearl necklace.
![Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the NIAB, (National Institute of Agricultural Botany) on July 09, 2019 in Cambridge, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-0318-02-queen08.jpg?resize=864%2C1216&ssl=1)
Here’s a close-up view of the brooch from a previous appearance in 2019. The intricate gold and diamond brooch was a Diamond Jubilee gift to the Queen from government of Singapore in 2012. The piece is a traditional Peranakan-style brooch, made by Singapore-based jeweler Thomis Kwan. The brooch wasn’t a commission; it was a stock item from Kwan’s firm, made of yellow gold and set with 61 diamonds. An official from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs purchased the brooch from Kwan’s store.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II presents the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry to Guyanese poet Grace Nichols during a private audience at Windsor Castle, on March 16, 2022](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-0318-02-queen06.jpg?resize=1200%2C1686&ssl=1)
The Queen has worn the brooch often throughout the ten years that have elapsed since the Diamond Jubilee. One of her notable recent appearances in the jewels came in March 2022, when she wore the brooch at Windsor Castle to present the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry to Grace Nichols.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reacts during her visit to Paddington Station in London on May 17, 2022, to mark the completion of London's Crossrail project, ahead of the opening of the new 'Elizabeth Line' rail service next week](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-0518-01-elizabeth09.jpg?resize=1200%2C1589&ssl=1)
Here’s one more glimpse of the Queen from yesterday’s surprise engagement. Here’s hoping that her recent happy appearances are a good sign for several more outings during the upcoming Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June!
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