Pieces of jewelry are lovable accessories that complement a person’s attire and overall appeal. It does not exempt the late Queen Elizabeth II from loving jewelry. From tiaras to necklaces, the Queen is known for having the grandest jewelry in the United Kingdom. But before going through her favorite jewelry, here is a brief important detail about her, her family, and her reign as a queen.
A Brief Introduction to the Queen
Queen Elizabeth II is named Elizabeth Alexandra Mary at birth. She was born on April 21, 1926, to parents Prince Albert, Duke of York, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon. She had a younger sister: Princess Margaret. In the beginning, the young Elizabeth was nowhere near the throne, for her father was the youngest child of King George V, leaving the throne to the blood of the older brother and her uncle, Edward VIII. When her grandfather died, her uncle Edward VIII takes the throne.
Education
Young Elizabeth’s education was mostly managed by her mother, who then entrusted her to a governess, Maron Crawford. C.H.K. Marten ground the princess in history and by the head of Eton College. She had the privilege of learning from visiting teachers in music and languages.
The Turn of Events
Edward VIII, who was King George V, renounced the throne after marrying a divorcee from the United States (the British Monarch did not allow divorced people to remarry in the church if their ex-spouses were still alive). He later became known as the Duke of Windsor. They then left the throne with Elizabeth’s father, who became King George VI in 1937, and Elizabeth, 11 years old, was a presumptive heir.
Marriage
Elizabeth married Prince Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947. Their first baby was born in 1948: Prince Charles. Other siblings, Prince Andrew and Edward and Princess Anne, followed him.
Reign
One week after Queen Elizabeth’s tour of the British Empire in Africa in 1952, her father died. She was summoned to go back to the country. The whole empire mourns the passing of its king. Upon arrival, she was immediately proclaimed queen. But it was in 1953 that has received her formal coronation as Queen Elizabeth II at 25 years old.
Queen Elizabeth’s reign was not always a perfect one. She had a lot of critics everywhere. But she continued to be a source of love, guidance, dignity, understanding, and respect towards her people. She gave people a fair hearing.
Her reign lasted for 70 years and was considered the longest-serving British monarch and female monarch in history.
She passed away because of old age in September 2022 at 96.
Most Favorite Jewelry of Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth is often seen in public as a shy and sweet queen. But aside from that, the queen’s lovely attire paired with sparkly jewelry is also noticeable to the public. Here are the pieces of jewelry considered to be the Queen’s favorites as they were worn multiple times or have been part of the most important events in the Queen’s life:
1. Imperial State Crown
There are two other crowns (which will be mentioned below) that are noteworthy for the Queen’s identity, aside from the Imperial State Crown. But first, let us know why the Imperial State Crown could be one of the Queen’s favorite pieces of jewelry. The crown was made by Garrard and Company that was used in the 1937 coronation of Elizabeth’s father, George VI. The crown is set with some of the most spectacular gems in the Crown Jewels: the 317.4 carat Cullinan II diamond together with the Stuart Sapphire and the Black Prince’s Ruby. The Imperial State Crown has been worn more often by the Queen and was captured in Cecil Beaton’s most famous portrait of the Queen at her coronation in 1953.
2. Diamond Diadem
The Diamond Diadem was created for George IV’s (Elizabeth’s grandfather) coronation in 1821. It comes second in popularity with the Imperial State Crown as the queen wore the crown as well to her coronation in 1952 to the first State Opening of Parliament of her reign. Since then, the Queen has worn the Diamond Diadem to every State Opening, making it a remarkable and highly visible jewel. The crown is set with 1,333 diamonds and a pale-yellow diamond inside the front cross, resting on a pearl and diamond bandeau. On some British stamps, the queen is shown wearing this diadem.
3. St Edward’s Crown
St Edward’s is the crown worn by the Queen during the actual crowning. It comprises a gold and jewel-encrusted base surmounted by a cross.
4. Coronation Earrings
Queen regents and consoles have worn this coronation earring at every coronation since 1901. These earrings have been made for Queen Victoria in 1858 using the diamonds from an old garter badge. They followed a typical design a large brilliant followed by a smaller one with a large pear-shaped drop.
5. Coronation Necklace
The coronation necklace comes hand in hand with the coronation earrings. Queen Victoria wore these two in the painting of herself made by Artist Franz Xaver Winterhalter. The necklace is also a drop-shaped pendant of 22.48 carats.
6. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
The famous tiara was made by Carrington & Co., in 1893 and was a wedding present by Queen Mary (Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother) who was still a princess. Queen Elizabeth wore the tiara of some Bank of England and Commonwealth currency notes and coins.
7. Dorset Bow brooch
The Queen wears brooches, depending on what suits best with her duties. They are jewels that can be both worn day and night, at indoor and outdoor events. They are easy to spot from far away because of their large and sparkling size. The Dorset Bow brooch is the brooch the Queen regularly wore. Her grandmother Queen Mary gave it to her for her wedding in 1947.
8. Delhi Durbar Necklace
The Queen often wore the Delhi Durbar Necklace at State dinners. Delhi Durbar Necklace highlights nine emeralds formerly owned by Queen Mary’s grandmother. Queen Elizabeth inherited the necklace in 1953.
9. Williamson brooch
The Williamson brooch is a 54.5-carat rough pink diamond that was given to the Queen in 1947. It was a wedding present from Dr. John Thorburn Williamson (a Canadian Geologist who owns a mine in Tanzania). It is one of the few jewels that was not inherited by the Queen. She has worn it to many key events, including her silver Jubilee celebrations, and the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Diana in 1981 as well as the wedding of Lord Linley and Countess Serena in 1933, and Prince Edward and Sophie in 1999.
10. South Africa necklace and bracelet
The government of South Africa gave this necklace and bracelet to the young Princess Elizabeth on her 21st birthday in 1947.
Final Thoughts
The elegant tiaras, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings are but a part of Elizabeth’s sparkling journey as a Queen. Those were all pieces of items that could tell the long years of the Queen’s reign. The sparkly jewelries the Queen wore all have meaningful story that not only adds to its charming appearance but also of its worthy.