![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (R) attend the ceremonies marking the opening of Parliament in Ottawa on October 14, 1957](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-0411-01-queen02.jpg?resize=1200%2C834&ssl=1)
Queen Victoria added a whole treasure trove of important jewels to the royal vaults during her reign, including a magnificent pair of earrings set with diamonds and pearl drops.
![Queen Victoria, ca. 1880s-1890s](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-0607-01-victoria01.jpg?resize=1200%2C1781&ssl=1)
The pearl and diamond earrings were a gift to Queen Victoria from her husband, Prince Albert, in 1847. Long after his death, she continued to wear the earrings for portraits, including this photograph taken much later in her reign. She pairs the earrings with other diamond and pearl jewels, including her small diamond crown, worn on this occasion without its arches.
![Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh pose in Buckingham Palace in London on January 12, 1954](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-0607-01-victoria02.jpg?resize=1200%2C1631&ssl=1)
Queen Victoria designated the earrings as heirlooms of the crown, meaning that they would pass from monarch to monarch for use by the monarch or consort. Queen Elizabeth II inherited the use of the earrings when her father died in February 1952, and over the years, she has worn them for some of the most formal occasions of her reign. Here, you’ll spot the earrings in a portrait taken not long after her coronation. She wears them with the Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara, the Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace, and the Dorset Bow Brooch.
![Queen Elizabeth II poses at the Government house before attending the ceremonies marking the opening of Parliament in Ottawa on October 14, 1957 during a state visit in Canada](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-0411-01-queen04.jpg?resize=1200%2C1118&ssl=1)
You’ll often see the Queen wearing the earrings for grand state occasions, like the openings of parliament, state banquets, and other events involving gowns, robes, and decorations. Here, she wears the earrings with her coronation gown in Ottawa for the opening of Canada’s parliament in 1957. She’s also wearing Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik, the Coronation Necklace, and the Edinburgh Wedding Bracelet.
![Queen Elizabeth II looks out of the window of her carriage as ahe arrives for the state opening of Parliament November 23, 2004 in London](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-0607-01-victoria04.jpg?resize=1200%2C1812&ssl=1)
The earrings can be viewed in excellent detail in this photograph, taken as the Queen arrives for the state opening of parliament in London in November 2004. She’s also wearing two other jewels that were worn by Queen Victoria: the Diamond Diadem and the Golden Jubilee Necklace.
![Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President Barack Obama (R) pose in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace ahead of a State Banquet on May 24, 2011 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-0613-01-queenpresidents37.jpg?resize=1200%2C1572&ssl=1)
In May 2011, she wore the earrings for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace during a visit from President Obama. She went with a diamond and pearl theme that evening, wearing the pearl setting of the Vladimir Tiara, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace, the Teck Emperor of Austria Brooch, and a pearl bracelet and evening watch.
![Queen Elizabeth II is seen as waits for her carriage as she leaves the Palace of Westminster following the Queen's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster on June 4, 2014 in London, England](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-0122-01-victoria16.jpg?resize=1200%2C1616&ssl=1)
Here, she wears the earrings with the Diamond Diadem and the Golden Jubilee Necklace again for the state opening of parliament in London in June 2014.
![Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leaves after attending the Most Noble Order of the Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle in southern England, on June 15, 2015](https://i0.wp.com/www.thecourtjeweller.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022-0607-01-victoria03.jpg?resize=1200%2C1575&ssl=1)
And here, she wears the earrings with the elaborate robes of the Order of the Garter for the annual Garter Day service at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor in June 2015.
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