Can you believe it? Royal Ascot is back! The famous race meeting begins today, and we’re expecting to see the Queen attend (at least part of) the meet for the first time in two years. To celebrate, here’s a look back at the royal jewels worn by the Queen during her last outings at Royal Ascot, back in June 2019.
For the first day of Royal Ascot on June 18, 2019, the Queen wore a brooch that was totally unexpected, both because of its design and its national symbolism.
This is the Sapphire Jubilee Snowflake Brooch, given to the Queen by Governor General David Johnston on behalf of the Canadian people to mark her Sapphire Jubilee in 2017. The brooch, which is set with rare Canadian sapphires, was made by Hilberg & Berk. Quite a surprise to see a brooch with a winter theme at a spring/summer event!
On the first day of the races, the British royals were joined by two special guests: King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, who were in Windsor for his Garter investiture the previous day. Maxima wore earrings made from parts of the Stuart Tiara for her Royal Ascot debut.
On day two of the races (June 19, 2019), the Queen reached for one of the most important brooches in the monarch’s collection: Prince Albert’s Brooch, a gift from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria on the eve of their royal wedding in 1840. The lovely, classic brooch features a large sapphire set in a cluster of diamonds.
Day three of Royal Ascot (June 20, 2019) is Ladies’ Day, and the Queen wore an especially springy ensemble for the occasion. With a gray coat featuring yellow floral applique, the Queen wore the Diamond Daffodil Brooch. (We’ve seen this outfit twice recently: for the State Opening of Parliament and Trooping the Colour, both times with aquamarine and diamond brooches.)
On the fourth day of Royal Ascot (June 21, 2019), the Queen reached for one of her very favorite brooches: the Jardine Star Brooch, which she has had in her collection since the early 1980s.
And for the fifth and final day of Royal Ascot (June 22, 2019), the Queen wore a brooch that was beloved by the Queen Mother: the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch.
We don’t know exactly when the Queen plans to attend the races this year, but royal reporters have hinted that she wants to be able to see her horses run. At this point, it looks like she has horses entered in races on all five days of the event, so we’ll see if she shows up each day. (There won’t be carriage processions this year, so we won’t see the royals in that traditional way, but hopefully we’ll see her in the parade ring or the royal box.) I’ll update the morning posts this week with pictures of her brooches if and when she appears, so watch this space!
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