Christmas day comes with a number of traditions, and for some, sitting down post-feast and watching The Queen’s Christmas Day broadcast is an annual tradition that’s followed every year.
Whilst, of course, The Queen herself is the star of the show, her dazzling brooches often steal some of the limelight. From diamonds to rubies and sapphires to pearls, each year we get another glimpse into the extravagance of her collection.
The Queen has an impressive collection of brooches worth millions, and what we have seen on Christmas Day is just a very small selection. Anthony French, Diamond expert at Austen & Blake, has taken a deeper look into The Queen’s choice of brooches over the last seven years and given us an estimated value of each.
2015 – The Queen Mother’s Aquamarine Art Deco Brooch
On Christmas Day 2015, The Queen appeared on her annual broadcast wearing a diamond and aquamarine brooch that she inherited from The Queen Mother following her death in 2002, however, the stunning art deco piece is thought to date back to at least the 1930s!
The brooch is set with both diamonds and bright blue aquamarines and is also thought to be able to separate into a pair of clips. This spectacular piece is likely worth around £15,000.
2016 – Queen Victoria’s Pearl and Diamond Brooch
In 2016 The Queen appeared on our screens wearing Queen Victoria’s pearl and diamond brooch. It is not known exactly when this brooch was made, but The Queen Mother was seen wearing it a number of times during the 1950s.
A beautiful combination of diamonds and pearls make up this filigree piece setting it at an estimated value of £5,000.
2017 – The Jardine Star Brooch
In 2017 The Queen wore a familiar piece for her broadcast, The Jardine Star Brooch. Like many pieces in The Queen’s jewellery collection, this brooch was also passed down from The Queen Mother.
It is thought that The Queen Mother was gifted this symmetrical piece by a Lady Jardine in 1981. This silver and diamond brooch has a collet diamond on a knife-wire between each of its eight points and has an estimated value of £170,000.
2018 – The Scarab Brooch
The 2018 broadcast saw The Queen wear a sentimental piece, The Scarab Brooch, which was gifted to her by her husband, Prince Phillip, in 1966.
The brooch, designed by Andrew Grima, is crafted in yellow gold and features carved ruby and diamond embellishments. The Queen has worn this special piece on many occasions, and for an estimated price tag of £10,000, she is definitely getting her money’s worth.
2019 – The Prince Albert Brooch
In 2019, The Queen wore a brooch that has made its way through five generations of the British royal family, The Prince Albert Brooch. Originally gifted to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert the day before their wedding in 1840, and finally ending up with The Queen following The Queen Mothers death in 2002.
The designer of this brooch remains unknown, however, many experts believe that Albert commissioned London-based jeweller Garrard to create this spectacular jewel. Set in gold is a large sapphire surrounded by 12 round diamonds, this piece is likely worth at least £30,000.
2020 – The Queen Mother’s Shell Brooch
Last year The Queen opted for a particularly special brooch, and one that she has worn quite regularly over the years, The Queen Mother’s Shell Brooch. This is another brooch that was passed down by her mother, and was once a staple in her collection, even wearing it during her 100th birthday celebrations – one that rightly holds special significance to The Queen.
The brooch, designed by Lord Courtauld-Thomson in 1919, consists of solid rows of diamonds with a single pearl cradled at the base with strings of diamonds of varying lengths suspended underneath. A truly beautiful and unique piece worth around £5,000.
What we have seen over the years is just a small insight into The Queen’s collection of brooches. We look forward to finding out which historic piece will make it to our screens this Christmas!
