Bejeweled Gifts to the British Royal Family Revealed

The British royals have released several lists of official gifts received over the past few years, and there are numerous bejeweled presents tucked away among the pages. Let’s take a look today at some of the new information we’ve learned about a few of these official jewelry gifts.

Lists of official gifts from 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 have been released by Buckingham Palace on the royal website. The lists cover the last two years of Queen Elizabeth II’s life, and there are mentions of several gifts she received during that time, especially pieces presented to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee in 2022. These include four brooches. The Goldsmiths’ Company gave her a “decorative” brooch in white gold, platinum, and diamonds, which she wore for a ceremonial beacon lighting at Windsor during the jubilee celebrations.

Elizabeth also received a platinum and diamond brooch from the Freemasons, a platinum, pearl, and diamond brooch from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and a brooch gift from the government and people of the Isle of Man. The last of these, called the “Infinity Isle of Man Brooch,” is made of recycled gold and set with gemstones (blue topaz, citrine, amethyst, and emerald) to represent four of the island’s towns.

There’s one more additional brooch mentioned in the gifts lists, presented to the late Queen by a different source to mark a different occasion. During a visit to Windsor Castle in 2021, President and Dr. Biden presented the Queen with a floral brooch. The hand-painted brooch featured a floral pattern designed by the Arkansas miniature artist Lynn Ponto-Peterson. Made by the Eagle Pen Company of Charlottesville, Virginia, the brooch’s backing plaque was hand-shaped from a section of White House pine lumber that dates to 1815, when the residence was rebuilt after burning during the War of 1812.

The lists contain multiple references to jewelry items presented to King Charles III and Queen Camilla both before and after his accession to the throne. During a visit to Greece in March 2021, Camilla received a bracelet from the country’s Prime Minister, as well as a pair of earrings from an unidentified individual. She received another pair of earrings from an individual during the royal visit to Jordan in November 2021.

The accession and coronation years brought numerous gifts. Among these were “a white metal brooch depicting a unicorn with a green gemstone eye” from the Goldsmiths’ Centre, a small brooch from the Governor of Tasmania, a coronation gift brooch from the Crown Prince of Kuwait, and a brooch featuring the Queen’s cypher from the King and Queen of Malaysia. Camilla also received a loose collection of lapis lazuli stones from former President Karzai of Afghanistan, as well as a necklace and earrings from a group of Amazonian indigenous leaders.

King Charles added some baubles to his collection as well. He was gifted a gentleman’s watch by the President of South Korea during the November 2023 state visit, and he received cufflinks from several sources, including President Biden and the King and Queen of Jordan.

The Prince and Princess of Wales also logged gifts from before and after his father’s accession. Most notable jewelry-wise is the small collection of pieces that Catherine, then Duchess of Cambridge, received during the couple’s trip to Ireland in March 2020. She received several pieces from individuals, including a necklace and earrings and a ring, as well a necklace presented by Simon Coveney, the Tanaiste of Ireland.

Meticulous as always, the Princess Royal submitted a wonderfully detailed set of official gift lists, including numerous pieces of jewelry from both organizations and individuals. Highlights include several brooches, including a Sea Cadets Brooch presented during a visit to open the Port Edgar Boat Station, a brooch given by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and a Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Brooch, worn above, presented during a rehearsal visit in August 2022.

Anne also received an intriguing “grey pearl necklace with a large intaglio pendant” from a member of the public in September 2020, and a sterling silver necklace and coordinating earrings made by the sculptor Jacob Chandler, as a gift from the artist. Another necklace and pendant were presented by Robinson Goldsmith Jewellers during a visit to Bangor in 2022. Multiple Royal British Legion poppy brooches, including one designed by the daughter of Dame Vera Lynn, were sent to Anne as well.

There were several jewelry pieces included in the lists of gifts presented to the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (previously Earl and Countess of Wessex) as well. Among these are several pairs of earrings, including red and black beaded earrings from Cree leader Sheila North and a pair of earrings from Palenque Jewellery in Edinburgh. Sophie has worn more than one pair of earrings from the company, but I have a feeling that this hammered silver pair, worn at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2021, are the ones mentioned on the gift list.