The Queen’s Scottish Jewels for a Surprise Appearance in Edinburgh

Buckingham Palace had noted recently that the Queen very much hoped to be able to make her annual trip to Scotland for Holyrood Week, her official period of residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. But because the Queen’s public appearances are no longer announced beforehand, it was still a nice surprise to see her appear in Edinburgh for the traditional Ceremony of the Keys. Traditionally, just after the monarch arrives at Holyroodhouse, she is presented with the keys to the city of Edinburgh by the city’s Lord Provost. (She always immediately hands them back, telling the Lord Provost that she knows the city’s in good hands.)

For this year’s ceremony, the Queen wore light blue: a floral dress with a matching coat and hat. She also carried a trusty walking stick.

The Queen’s jewelry for the occasion was also part of the tradition of the ceremony. With her diamond and pearl earrings and three-stranded pearl necklace, she wore a pair of bejeweled military badges.

The top badge is that of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The Queen is the regiment’s colonel-in-chief, and she wears the badge often for events in Scotland. Below it is the badge of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The Queen has been their colonel-in-chief since 1947, an appointment she received from her father as a 21st birthday present. The regiment has since been amalgamated into the larger Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The Queen was accompanied at the ceremony by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, who now use their Scottish titles of Earl and Countess of Forfar while in Scotland. The Queen gave the title to Prince Edward as a 55th birthday present in 2019.

Sophie wore her multi-gem cluster earrings for the ceremony at the palace.

She also added a few more accessories, including a necklace with a small gold pendant and a stack of bracelets on her right wrist.