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Sparkling Royal Jewels From Around the World
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Some of the Queen’s brooches are so large that they transition quite naturally from day to evening. Today’s brooch, the Queen Mother’s Ruby Bouquet Brooch, has been worn by the Queen for both daytime engagements and evening galas.
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The brooch features a spray of stylized flowers and scrolls, set with diamonds and rubies, and gathered by a delicate diamond bow. The piece belonged to the Queen Mother, who wore it in her later years with the Crown Rubies. Beyond that, the piece does not appear to have any documented provenance.
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Since inheriting the brooch from her mother in 2002, the Queen has worn it on four occasions, all of which came during high-profile diplomatic moments or on holiday celebrations. She debuted the brooch in March 2008 in Northern Ireland. She wore the brooch at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh for the annual Royal Maundy service.
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In June 2014, the Queen paired the brooch with diamond jewels (including the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and the Coronation Necklace and Earrings) for a gala dinner during her state visit to France. The rubies in the brooch coordinated quite nicely with the red sash of the Order of the Legion of Honor.
Ian Vogler – Pool/Getty Images |
A year later, during her state visit to Germany in June 2015, the Queen wore the brooch for an event that skirted the edge of day/evening: a garden party reception at the British embassy in Berlin.
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And most recently, the Queen wore the brooch in December 2019 for one of the most photographed moments of the royal year: church service near the Sandringham estate on Christmas Day. The brooch’s diamond details looked beautiful against her bright red coat for the occasion, though the rubies faded just a bit into the similarly-colored background.
Paul Faith – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
The Queen’s brooch collection includes pieces made from all different sorts of metals and gemstones, but today’s brooch features a unique material: porcelain. Here’s a closer look at the Bronte Porcelain Brooch.
Paul Faith – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
Thanks to a press release from Buckingham Palace, we know the precise provenance of this modern brooch. It’s a new piece, designed by Bob and Lucy Price and made by Bronte Porcelain. That business, which was located in Malvern, has sadly since closed. But their unusual porcelain and diamond brooch lives on in the Queen’s jewelry box. I’ve seen the flowers in the design described as both lily of the valley and snowdrops. (I tend to think it’s the latter.)
Paul Faith – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
The Queen debuted the brooch during her visit to Northern Ireland in June 2014. She wore the piece on the third and final day of the trip, which included a visit to the cenotaph in Coleraine, which was part of a launch ceremony for World War One centenary commemorations.
Arthur Edwards – WPA Pool/Getty Images |
A year later, in June 2015, the Queen wore the brooch for the final day of her state visit to Germany. The subdued brooch was the perfect choice for a somber occasion: a visit to the memorial at Bergen-Belsen. During her time at the site of the former camp, she visited the grave of Anne Frank, laid a ceremonial wreath at the inscription wall, and spoke with survivors and liberators.
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So far, the Queen has only worn the brooch on three occasions. The most recent was the Festival of Remembrance in November 2016, when she wore the brooch with a single paper poppy.
Victoria Jones-WPA Pool/Getty Images |
There’s a definite thread running through all three of these occasions: somber remembrance. The fact that the brooch is not primarily set with dazzling gems, but instead with white flowers, makes it a very appropriate choice for moments of tribute and memory. I’d wager that we’ll see the brooch continue to be used in this way in the future.