Holyrood Week Jewels 2019

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While I was away last week, the Queen was very busy up in Scotland! Today, we’ve got a look at the jewels she wore during Holyrood Week, her annual residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

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On June 28, crowds gathered in Cumbernauld for the Queen’s visit to Greenfaulds High School.

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The Queen wore one of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bow Brooches for the visit. She kept the same brooch on for the annual Ceremony of the Keys later in the day at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

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On June 29, the Queen and the Prince of Wales were both on hand to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Scotland’s Parliament.

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She chose a very Scottish jewel for the occasion: the Diamond Thistle Brooch that belonged to her grandmother, Queen Mary.

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There was also another bejeweled guest of honor at parliament on the same day: the Crown of Scotland, which was carried in by the Duke of Hamilton. (More on its history over here!)

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The Queen attended Sunday church services on June 30 at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh. It’s the same church where her granddaughter, Zara Phillips, married Mike Tindall in the summer of 2011.

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She chose the Sapphire and Diamond Grapes Brooch that belonged to the late Queen Mum for the occasion.

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On July 3, the Queen held private audiences at the Palace of Holyroodhouse with Ken Macintosh, presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, and with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

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It’s a little hard to see on her printed dress, but the Queen wore Queen Mary’s Russian Brooch for the audiences.

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Later the same afternoon, the Queen hosted the annual garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

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I got more than a few messages while I was away about the brooch she chose for the garden party — because it appears to be a new piece!

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It also appears to have Scottish connections, as the brooch features a sort of abstract version of a paisley print. The pink and black brooch is studded with diamonds, but it’s really tough to tell what material the rest of the brooch is made of. I’ve read speculations about onyx or coral, but from photographs, it could easily also be something akin to Bakelite (especially given the midcentury feel of the piece). Without being able to see it in person or touch it, it’s just too hard to tell. We’ll have to wait until the palace offers us some sort of comment about its provenance.

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The Princess Royal was also present for the garden party, wearing her Grima pearl and diamond earrings with her seed pearl necklace. She also pinned a gem-studded badge to the lapel of her coat.

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On July 4, the Queen met Olive the Duck and her keeper, Maia Gordon, during a visit to Gorgie City Farm in Edinburgh.

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The Queen dug a pair of floral brooches that you may recognize out of her jewelry box for this particular engagement.

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These are the smaller Nizam of Hyderabad Rose Brooches, which were salvaged when the rest of the tiara was dismantled in the 1970s. The Queen often wears the largest of the three brooches, but it was a treat to see these out again!