Queen Mary’s Celtic Knot Brooch stands as a testament to the enduring beauty and legacy of royal jewellery. Gifted to Queen Mary, then Princess May of Teck, as a wedding present in 1893 by Tsarevich Nicholas, the future Emperor Nicholas II of Russia.
The brooch has traveled through generations of British royalty, gracing the attire of Monarchs and Consorts.
Queen Camilla pictured at a service wearing Queen Mary’s Diamond and Emerald Celtic Knot Brooch.(Royal Family).
Crafted by the Russian court jeweller Karl Hahn, the brooch features an exquisite cabochon emerald at its centre, set within an intricate diamond knot. Purchased by the Tsarevich from his personal funds, the brooch cost 1,485 rubles, as detailed in an invoice dated 9th July 1893. This gift was one of many dazzling pieces Queen Mary received during her wedding to the Duke of York, the future King George V.
In its early years, Mary wore the brooch as a striking addition to her high-neck dresses, reflecting the fashion trends of the 1890s. One of the earliest known photographs of her wearing the piece dates back to around 1898. She was later photographed wearing the brooch at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1929.
Upon Queen Mary’s passing in 1953, the brooch was bequeathed to her granddaughter, Elizabeth II. Despite its significance, Elizabeth II was rarely seen wearing the brooch until 2014. That year, it took centre stage during the Irish State Banquet at Windsor Castle, pinned to her sash in a powerful display of symbolism and style.
Elizabeth II wore Queen Mary’s Celtic Knot Brooch on several occasions in her later years, including in one of her final public appearances. In July 2022, she donned it while awarding the George Cross to the National Health Service at Windsor Castle. Later that summer, she wore it at Balmoral Castle, where she passed away in September 2022.
The story of the brooch continues with Queen Camilla. In 2023, Camilla debuted the brooch during her visit to Northern Ireland’s Coronation Garden at Newtownabbey. Later that year, she wore it at the Commonwealth Women Leaders’ event at Marlborough House.
As Camilla carries on the legacy of Queen Mary’s Celtic Knot Brooch, royal watchers and jewellery enthusiasts alike can look forward to seeing this historic piece grace many more moments of significance in the years to come.
