Made by Rundell, Bridge & Co in 1838, Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bracelet is made up of five links, each containing nine large diamonds surrounded by diamond foliage. In order to make the piece, the diamonds were removed from a George IV Garter and a piece of Hanoverian insignia, which had been inherited by the young Queen just a few months earlier.
As she got older, the bracelet remained one of Victoria’s favourites and was worn for both her Golden and Diamond Jubilee portraits. Upon her death in 1901, the bracelet was amongst several items designated as an Heirloom of the Crown. First to inherit it was Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII. Alexandra first wore the piece to her coronation on 9th August 1902.
Next to inherit the bracelet was Queen Mary, wife of King George V. Like Victoria, Mary wore the piece several times throughout her reign, including for many official portraits, as did her successor, Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother). However, the Queen Mother liked the piece so much that she was allowed to wear it following the death of King George VI in 1952. Queen Elizabeth II finally received the piece at some point in the 1960s and wore it to a few formal events.
©️ National Portrait Gallery, London
Following the death of King George IV in 1952, the Queen Mother was meant to pass the piece onto her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. However, it was one of a few pieces to remain in her private collection and didn’t pass to her daughter until the 1960s. In September 2022, the bracelet would have been inherited by Queen Camilla, consort of King Charles III, who is currently yet to wear the beautiful piece.
©️Queen.Victoria.Roses 2024
This article is the intellectual property of Queen.Victoria.Roses and should not be COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances unless permission is given by the author
