It comes as no surprise that the royal family’s collection of jewellery—and castles—is like no other.
And while Queen Elizabeth’s wardrobe of tiaras adorned with oversized diamonds, precious stones and pearls are no exception to that rule, it’s her brooches that often get forgotten about.
Aside from their aesthetic beauty and jaw-dropping price tag, their historical and personal value to Her Majesty outweighs anything else. Whether they were inherited relics, extravagant gifts or commissioned for special occasions, her ornate collection of brooches have outlived both monarchs and political leaders.
From Queen Victoria’s heirlooms to the centenary rose, it’s time that we let go of the royal tiara chat and focused our attention on another jewel.
Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Queen Elizabeth II’s most iconic brooches and why they each have their own special meaning to her.
Gifted to her as a personal gift by her husband, Prince Philip, in 1996, the Scarab Brooch carries a very special meaning to Her Majesty. She wore the gold, ruby and diamond piece during her and Philip’s official platinum anniversary portrait.
Commissioned as a 100th birthday present for the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth’s Centenary Rose Brooch is framed by 100 diamonds—hence why it has “centenary” in its name. Made by Collins and Sons, the piece also features a hand-painted Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora Rose (a flower that was bred for the Queen’s 1953 coronation) on rock crystal.
Dating back to Queen Victoria’s reign, the gold-set sapphire and diamond Prince Albert Brooch was gifted to Victoria by her husband-to-be, Prince Albert, the day before they wed—which she then wore on her wedding gown.
According to the Court Jeweller’s Ella Kay, Victoria designated the brooch as an heirloom of the crown in her will, which mean that each reigning monarch after her would inherit it. Queen Elizabeth II wears the piece relatively often as well as the three past Queen’s and Queen Consorts.
Gifted to Queen Elizabeth by her parents, the Flower Basket Brooch was given to her in 1948 to celebrate the birth of her first child, Prince Charles. In her first portrait with newborn Charles, she chose to wear the brooch. She then wore it again, decades later, during the christening of Charles’ first grandchild, Prince George.
Gifted to the Queen by the mayor of Auckland’s wife, Lady Allum, the New Zealand Silver Fern Brooch was crafted as a Christmas present from “the women of Auckland” and was designed to form the shape of a fern, one of New Zealand’s emblems. Currently, the Queen—and occasionally other senior royals—will wear the piece on visits to New Zealand or when attending events tied to the country.
Ever since 1399, the monarch has held the title of the Duke of Lancaster—no matter the monarch’s gender. Today, the Duchy serves as a key source of income for the royal family. The Duchy of Lancaster Brooch mimics the Duchy’s coat of arms and is usually worn by Queen Elizabeth while visiting, you guessed it, Lancaster.
Just like the New Zealand Silver Fern Brooch, the Maple Leaf Brooch is Her Majesty’s way of subtly paying tribute to Canada. The diamond, platinum-set piece was first gifted to the Queen Mother by King George VI ahead of their state visit to Canada, according to Ella Kay. Since then, the Queen, Kate Middleton and Camilla Parker-Bowles have been seen wearing it at Canadian events.
Gifted by the Braemar Royal Highland Society in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubliee, the piece mimics the feather of an eagle, one of Scotland’s native birds. According to Ella Kay, ever since receiving the brooch, the Queen has worn it to the Braemar Gathering, a storied highland games competition.
The Coral Rose Brooch
In 1990, the Queen was gifted the Coral Rose Brooch by the Order of Liberation to mark the 50th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle’s famous appeal on June 18, 1940.
While Her Majesty rarely wears the Coral Rose, when she does, it’s typically for a French event. She also chose it during a trip to Paris in 2004, which also marked the centenary of the Entente Cordiale, a series of agreements that improved foreign relations between France and the U.K.
The Chelsea Iris Brooch
One of the Queen’s favourite events is the Chelsea Flower Show which is put on every year by the Royal Horticultural Society. Bestowing this brooch on the Queen, the RHS gifted her the piece to mark her Diamond Jubilee. Its shape was taken from the Iris Unguicularis, a flower associated with the show. Her Majesty often wears the Chelsea Irish Brooch when visiting the Show.
Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Brooch
Queen Elizabeth’s worn the Empress Maria Feodorovna’s brooch—which features a glistening central sapphire and pearl pendant—with her cherished pearl necklace on a multitude of occasions. With a storied history, the brooch has changed hands more than once prior to when Queen Mary purchased it in 1930.
True Lover’s Knot
Inherited from her grandmother, Queen Mary, the True Lover’s Knot brooch was acquired from Garrard in 1912. Her Majesty wore the glistening diamond piece—which features scalloped edges and tassels—to the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011.
Cullinan V
Featuring a stone from the famed Cullinan diamond collection, the heart-shaped Cullinan V brooch was originally worn by Queen Mary and was part of a jewellery set made for the Delhi Durbar in 1911.
The Teck Corsage
One of the most intricate pieces in the Queen’s jewellery collection, The Teck Corsage brooch features a large central pearl surrounded by braided diamonds and a removable pendant chain featuring three pearls. Queen Elizabeth wore the brooch when she hosted former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in 2011, and later detached the pendant when she attended Ascot in 2012.
Duchess of Cambridge Pearl Pendant
Made up of a large pearl surrounded by sparkling diamonds and a detachable pearl pendant, the Duchess of Cambridge brooch is one of the most timeless pieces in Her Majesty’s collection. This brooch was one of Queen Mary’s favourite jewels which she wore throughout her reign.
Frosted Sunflower
Unlike the rest of her silver and platinum brooches, the Frosted Sunflower—which is sometimes referred to as the Gold Dahlia—is made from 18kt gold and features a scattering of 31 diamonds. It was commissioned by Garrard & Co in the 1970s and remains a firm favourite in Her Majesty’s wardrobe today.
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