Our first Christmas in seven decades without a television broadcast from Queen Elizabeth II, or a glimpse of her attending church on Christmas Day, will take place this weekend. While it will surely be a moment of somber reflection for her family and people around the world who cared about her, it’s also a great opportunity to remember how much she loved the holiday—and to appreciate some of her favorite brooches to wear during the Christmas season. Here’s a look at several jewels that we saw her wear numerous times on Christmas Day.
One of the Queen’s favorite brooches to wear for Christmas, especially in her televised broadcasts, was the Cullinan V Brooch. The sparkling jewel features one of the gems cut from the famed Cullinan Diamond, and it was a favorite of the late monarch throughout the entirety of her reign. She wears the heart-shaped jewel here as she records her Christmas broadcast in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace in December 2008, and she also wore it for Christmas broadcasts in 1974, 1975, and 1999.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s Pearl Pendant Brooch takes its name from Queen Mary’s grandmother, Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge. Queen Elizabeth II inherited the jewel from Queen Mary in 1953, and she treasured it and wore it throughout her long life. Here, she wears the brooch as she films her Christmas broadcast at Buckingham Palace in 1971, and she also wore it for broadcasts in 1996, 2004, 2012, and 2014.
One of the workhorse jewels of the late Queen’s collection was the Pearl Trefoil Brooch, and it had just as prominent a place in her wardrobe at Christmas as it did throughout the rest of the year. She wears the brooch here in December 2000 as she films her Christmas broadcast at Buckingham Palace. We also saw her wear the brooch for broadcasts in 1985, 1992, 1997, and 2005.
What could be better for the holiday season than a Christmas star? It’s no wonder that the Queen so loved to wear the Jardine Star Brooch at Christmas. Here, she wears the dazzling diamond brooch for a Christmas Day church service near Sandringham in December 2006. She also wore it for Christmas broadcasts in 1982, 1995, and 2017.
Rubies are always a smart choice for the holidays, and the Queen wore her beloved Grima Ruby Brooch, a gift from her husband, several times to celebrate the holiday. She wears the ruby, gold, and diamond brooch here for her Christmas broadcast taping in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace in December 2007. She also wore it for broadcasts in 1986 and 2018.
The late monarch always loved her Golden Dahlia Brooch, a modern abstract floral piece made of gold and set with sparkling diamonds, and she wore it often at Christmas. Here, she sports the brooch at St. Mary Magdalene for a Christmas Day church service in December 2010. She also wore it for the same occasion in 2005, as well as for a Christmas broadcast in 2010.
The Flower Basket Brooch was always one of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite jewels, and it’s no wonder: it’s a sentimental piece connected to her parents and given to her to celebrate the birth of Prince Charles. She wore it several times for Christmas, too. Here, she wears the brooch to record her Christmas broadcast in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in December 2013, the year that Prince George was born and christened. She also wore the brooch for Christmas broadcasts in 1988 and 2006.
You can also read more about Queen Elizabeth II’s Christmas brooches in our earlier articles on her Christmas Broadcasts and her Christmas Day Jewels!
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