This weekend, King Charles III and Queen Camilla headed to church near the Sandringham estate, and Camilla brought along a fascinating little piece of royal jewelry history.
King Charles and Queen Camilla headed to St. Mary Magdalene, the little parish church situated beside Sandringham House, to attend a service on Sunday. Both were wrapped up warmly for the walk from the house to the church and back again.
Camilla wore several of her favorite pieces: her winter-white coat, her furry hat, her Chanel handbag, and her pearl drop earrings. She also pinned a little historical royal brooch to the collar of her coat.
The jewel is a presentation brooch, made to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902. The curling gold numerals, studded with tiny seed pearls, represent the coronation year. The jewel is also topped with a heraldic Tudor crown decorated with colorful enamel. Numerous examples of the brooch were made, and they were likely distributed as souvenirs of the occasion.
We don’t know the exact history of Camilla’s brooch. It could easily be a piece from the Royal Collection, or a legacy from Alice Keppel, or even a newer acquisition. Regardless, we know that it’s been in Camilla’s collection since before Charles’s accession. Here, she wears the brooch at Buckingham Palace in October 2019.
The brooch was also one of the first jewels we saw her wear after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Here, she wears it with other pieces of gold jewelry for a reception at Buckingham Palace for Realm High Commissioners shortly after the late Queen’s passing.
She also chose the brooch that December to wear for one of her most popular events of the year, her Christmas tree decorating party at Clarence House.
Here’s another look at Camilla wearing the brooch to church this weekend. It’s a lovely little souvenir from a fascinating period of royal history, and I’m glad it’s getting plenty of wear now.
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