In official portraits to mark her 20th wedding anniversary to King Charles, Queen Camilla opted to wear The Queen Mother’s Lily of the Valley brooch.
We’ve taken a look at its design and how this brooch came into the possession of the Royal Family…
The brooch was created by Fabergé, the famed Russian jeweller, and presented to the Queen Mother by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev during his historic visit to Britain in 1956. At the height of the Cold War, such a gift was not only an offering of beauty but a gesture of diplomacy, designed to soften relations between two world powers.
The brooch was designed to resemble a spray of lily of the valley, a flower symbolising humility, sweetness, and the return of happiness.
The Queen Mother’s Lily of the Valley brooch is composed of diamonds and pearls. The stems and leaves of the brooch are crafted from either platinum or white gold and set with small white diamonds. The delicate bell-shaped flowers of the lily of the valley are represented by white pearls, which dangle slightly from the diamond-set stems.
Interestingly, although the brooch was gifted directly to the Queen Mother, there are no public records or photographs confirming that she ever wore it. Whether this was due to the political nature of the gift or personal preference remains unknown. Nevertheless, the piece remained in the royal collection, quietly waiting for its next chapter.
Charles and Camilla pose in an official photograph ahead of their wedding anniversary. (Royal Family)
That chapter came with Queen Camilla, who has embraced the brooch and made it one of her favourite pieces. Over the years, she has worn it on several meaningful occasions, allowing the piece to blossom again in the public eye.
Most notably, Queen Camilla chose the brooch for the wedding of her daughter, Laura, in 2006. She also wore it during a royal visit to Canada in 2014 giving the brooch a new international presence.
