Today at Hidden Gems, I’ve added a new chapter to the story of an iconic Canadian royal brooch. Ahead of next week’s royal tour, today’s bonus reading includes several articles about Canadian royal jewels, including national emblems and creative modern brooches.
A Maple Leaf Brooch for Queen Mary: The Queen Mother’s Sentimental Jewelry Tribute
[Hidden Gems Exclusive]
Eighty-six years ago today, Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) stepped off the royal train in Winnipeg wearing a spectacular diamond and enamel maple leaf spray brooch loaned to her by her mother-in-law, Queen Mary. The choice of brooch was a subtle tribute to Mary, who had undergone a serious ordeal the day before while returning to London from a royal engagement.
In the spring of 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth made a royal visit to Canada. He gave her a special new brooch, which was made by Asprey, to commemorate the tour.
The Sapphire Jubilee Snowflake Brooch
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom celebrated her Sapphire Jubilee in 2017, marking an astonishing 65 years on throne. But of course, the UK isn’t the only country where she has reigned for so many decades; she’s also monarch in several other realms. To mark her Sapphire Jubilee as Queen of Canada, Governor General David Johnston presented her with a gift on behalf of the nation: a lovely new diamond and sapphire brooch.
The Saskatchewan Tourmaline Brooch
Many of the pieces that the Queen wears on a regular basis have serious heirloom pedigrees, but she also frequently receives new items of jewelry, especially as she reaches major milestones and celebrates big anniversary. Today’s piece, a lovely brooch made of tourmalines, was presented to HM by the Lieutenant-Governor of Saskatchewan.
Five Spectacular Royal Canadian Brooches
Ask any royal jewellery fan to name a Canadian royal brooch and the first answer is likely the diamond maple leaf, worn by four generations of royal women. But after that, it’s a struggle to name the rest. There are at least five and that “at least” caveat is because one of Canada’s offerings appears to have laid in a jewellery vault for more than a century before being pulled out again.
New Revelations about a Royal Maple Leaf Brooch
On September 18, 1901, when the royal couple arrived in Montreal, a committee of local women presented the Duchess of Cornwall and York with an intricate maple leaf brooch made of gold, diamonds, enamel, and a single pearl. The gift was presented to Mary after a dinner at the home of Lord Strathcona, the Canadian High Commissioner in London.
Queen Camilla Wears Special Symbolic Brooches in New Official Portraits
King Charles III isn’t just the sovereign of the United Kingdom. He’s also the monarch of several other nations, including fourteen additional Commonwealth Realms. In 2024, Buckingham Palace released a set of official portraits for Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Sapphire Jubilee Snowflake Brooch Immortalized on a Canadian Coin
One of our lovely readers, Janet, reached out recently with a special piece to showcase here: a collector’s coin, produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, that features Queen Elizabeth II’s Sapphire Jubilee Snowflake Brooch as part of its design.
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