The Princess of Wales has a range of jewellery in her collection, many of which she wears on special occasions. Her Diamond Leek Brooch is one of those brooches.
Catherine has worn her leek brooch on previous occasions to coincide with visits to Wales and engagements connected to the Welsh Guards.
Catherine wearing her diamond leek brooch. (MOD).
The Diamond Leek Brooch worn by Her Royal Highness is a replica of Elizabeth II’s, who’s original brooch presented to the late Queen as a regimental gift funded by the Welsh Guards themselves. At the time, each guardsman paid 12c and a half pence.
Bearing image as the cap badge of the Welsh Guards, Elizabeth II was debuted at a presentation of the colours to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in the grounds of Buckingham Palace in 1965.
Elizabeth II wore the brooch throughout her reign to nearly every engagement involving the Welsh Guards.
Similar to the current Princess of Wales, other members of the Royal Family have owned replicas of the leek brooch. Queen Camilla wore one during her first visit to Wales following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Diana, Princess of Wales, was also seen wearing a leek brooch, notably during a 1990 parade of the First Battalion of the Welsh Guards in London.
The leek is seen as the national symbol of Wales. Its symbolism dates back to the 7th century, where King of Gwynedd, Cadwaladr, ordered his men to wear a leek on their their armour to help easily distinguish them from the enemy. This legend inspired the Tudor royals to order their guards to wear leeks on St David’s Day, which cemented the practice.
The Princess of Wales was presented with her replica of the original Diamond Leek Brooch in 2023 during a visit to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in Windsor, which was also marked The Prince’s first visit as their new Colonel. Her Royal Highness also wore the brooch during a visit to Aberfan, where her and her husband paid tribute to those who lost their lives in 1966.
