Many pieces within the royal jewellery vaults have been passed down for generations, adorning numerous royal women throughout history. One such piece is the Duchess of Cambridge Pearl Pendant Brooch, a remarkable jewel with a storied past.
Despite its name, the brooch is not associated with Catherine, Princess of Wales, who was formerly known as the Duchess of Cambridge upon her marriage to Prince William. Instead, its legacy is tied to earlier female royals who cherished and wore the exquisite piece over the centuries.
The brooch features a large, oval-shaped pearl set within an intricate diamond frame, with an additional pearl drop suspended below, exemplifying timeless elegance. It is believed to have originally belonged to Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel, the wife of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, in the early 19th century.
According to Hugh Roberts in The Queen’s Diamonds, the brooch is of English origin and was likely made by the esteemed royal jeweller, Garrard.
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From Augusta, the brooch was passed down to her younger daughter, Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck. However, historical records do not confirm whether Mary Adelaide received the brooch before or after her mother’s death.
Following the death of the Duchess of Teck in 1897, the brooch was inherited by her only daughter, the future Queen Mary. While acquiring the Cambridge Emerald Parure proved more challenging, Queen Mary readily came into possession of the Pearl Pendant Brooch. She began wearing it in the 1890s and continued to do so for numerous official events and portraits throughout her reign as Queen and later as Queen Mother. Notably, Queen Mary wore the brooch at the christening of Prince Charles in 1948.
Upon Queen Mary’s death in 1953, Elizabeth II inherited the Duchess of Cambridge’s Pearl Pendant Brooch. However, it was not until the 1970s that Her late Majesty began wearing it frequently.
In recent years, the brooch has become a staple of the Queen’s wardrobe, appearing at numerous events, portraits, and even Christmas Speeches. Occasionally, the late Queen wore it without the pearl pendant, adding a versatile touch to this historical piece.
Elizabeth II wearing The Duchess of Cambridge’s Pearl Pendant Brooch. (Buckingham Palace)
One of the notable moments that Elizabeth wore the brooch was for a portrait to mark her 88th birthday. The photograph was taken at Buckingham Palace and commissioned on behalf of the Government’s GREAT Britain campaign, which aimed to highlight Britain as a world-class destination for trade, tourism, investment and education.
Portrait of William and Catherine. (Fitzwilliam Museum)
In a continuation of the brooch’s journey, the piece was worn by The Princess of Wales, in her and Prince William’s first joint portrait in 2022. Jamie Coreth was commissioned in 2021 by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund, which is held by the Cambridge Community Foundation. The painting shows the couple standing side-by-side while gazing into the distance.
William appears in a black suit with an eggshell coloured shirt and teal tie, while Catherine is shown wearing a metallic emerald green midi-dress and satin green heels. Catherine’s outfit is complemented by a number of pieces of jewellery including this brooch we have been looking at, Diana’s Collingwood pearl earrings and three-strand pearl bracelet.
