The Queen's jewellery box

It’s a big birthday year for the Queen this year, she turned 90 in April. However, the Queen also has another birthday celebration, an official birthday which is today! Apparently we have been celebrating the official birthday of a monarch in the UK since 1748 and the Queen’s official birthday moves to whichever date is a Saturday between 11th and 17th June. I had to stop and think about the complete genius of this idea. Surely we should all follow the Queen’s lead and adopt a second birthday that is on a Saturday (I’ve chosen 9th July this year!).

Anyway, I've been using this double birthday celebration as a great excuse to enjoy some of the Queen’s extensive and beautiful jewellery collection! The tiaras are gorgeous but as I can’t wear one everyday (hmm, can I?) I’ve been focussing more on other jewellery in her collection.

The Queen was given this Cartier bracelet for her 18th birthday in 1944

The Queen’s platinum and diamond engagement ring

The Queen wore a beautiful string of pearls on her wedding day. Her something borrowed was this tiara, borrowed from her mother

Diamond and ruby necklace, a wedding gift from her parents. I’m getting married this year, perhaps I should start dropping some hints!

This beautiful brooch was given to the Queen on the birth of Prince Charles. You can see her wearing it in this official photo with Charles

True lover’s knot brooch. Inherited from Queen Mary, the Queen wore this brooch to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Diamond and emerald necklace

This is the Queen Mary diamond stomacher. It’s a really large brooch that is rarely worn in it’s entirety anymore

This Cartier piece was given to the Queen as a wedding present. Kate Middleton recently borrowed it at an event at the National Portrait Gallery in London

Adapted from a post originally written for the London Jewellery School blog

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