Queen Camilla chose to wear the extremely rare Delhi Carved Emerald from the Royal Collection at Ascot on Thursday. The extremely rare carved emerald was originally given to Queen Mary, wife of George V to commemorate her visit to India in 1911.
It was given to her when she attended the Delhi Durbar, the coronation of the Emperor and Empress of India, and was a gift from The Ladies of India to celebrate the occasion. The brooch was inherited by the Queen after Queen Mary’s death and was not worn publicly until recent years.
Queen Mary had continued to wear the brooch throughout her lifetime, often combining it with an incredible tiara – The Delhi Durbar tiara and often in addition with the Delhi Turbar Parure, an incredible combination of diamonds and emeralds in a nine row necklace. On her death in 1953 Queen Elizabeth II chose to wear the brooch on several occasions, however not with with the parure or tiara.
It’s an hexagonal emerald and the brooch is surrounded by beautifully cut round diamonds and set in yellow gold and platinum. The exquisite one off piece features a rose carved onto the emerald and was originally inherited by Queen Elizabeth II on Queen Mary’s death.
Like this? Read about the message behind Zara Tindall’s brooch
