Elizabeth II Archives - Page 2 of 16 - History of Royal Women

The Australian Wattle Brooch

Friday, 10 March 2023, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The Australian Wattle brooch is “claw- and pavé-set with three large brilliant and a variety of white, pale and deep yellow brilliants and baguettes in the form of a sprig of a golden wattle with a spray of Australian tea tree blossom.” The brooch represents the national flower of Australia and was commissioned by William [read more]

The New Zealand Silver-fern Brooch

Friday, 17 February 2023, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The New Zealand Silver-fern brooch is “set with brilliants and baguettes as a frond of silver tree fern.” It is one of the most recognisable national emblems of New Zealand, and it was given to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 by the women of Auckland. This happened during her visit to New Zealand, which was [read more]

The Williamson Diamond Brooch

Friday, 10 February 2023, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The Williamson Diamond Brooch is “designed in the form of a jonquil set with brilliants, marquises and baguettes, the centre of the flower with a large pink brilliant.” Embed from Getty Images The large pink centre stone is 23.6 carats and is believed to be the finest pink diamond to ever be discovered. It was [read more]

The Nizam of Hyderabad Rose Brooches

Friday, 27 January 2023, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The Nizam of Hyderabad Rose brooches, three in total, were part of a Cartier tiara. The tiara was bought by the Nizam of Hyderabad, together with a necklace, as a wedding present for the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947. The tiara was worn over the next 25 years but was eventually broken up in 1973, [read more]

The Festoon Necklace

Friday, 20 January 2023, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 2

The Festoon necklace is “composed of 83 brilliants in cut-down collets, the three largest cushion-shaped, set as three graduated chains suspended from triangular clasps at either side, pave-set with a further 22 stones, and joined by a single back-chain with clasp; the individual collets with old spiral links, now fixed.” Embed from Getty Images The [read more]

The City of London Necklace

Friday, 13 January 2023, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The City of London necklace has “56 graduated bars, set with a variety of brilliant-cut, cushion-cut and pear-shaped stones, divided by narrow graduated brilliant-set spikes.” The necklace is very similar in design to Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara. It was a wedding present to the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947 from the Lord Mayor of London, [read more]