Queen Elizabeth’s jewellery collection is among the most impressive in the world. From diamonds, to pearls, the Queen has it all and shows them off on special occasions. Not only are these pieces of jewellery worth a lot of money, they also hold great sentimental value and historical significance. Here’s why many of the Queens brooches are special.

The Centenary Rose Brooch

This brooch was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth as a 100th birthday present for the Queen Mother.

It is framed by 100 diamonds which is why it is named the ‘centenary’ brooch. The piece was made by Collins and Sons and it features a hand-painted Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora Rose on rock crystal.

This rose is so special because it was a flower bred for the Queen’s 1953 coronation.

The Queen has been seen to wear this on different occasions including her 2002 Christmas broadcast to the nation which took place just nine months after her mother’s death.

The Chelsea Iris Brooch

Commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society, organisers of the world famous Chelsea Flower Show, this very special brooch was created to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee.

The brooch is the shape of an Iris Unguicularis, a popular flower that is associated with the show. The Queen will often wear this brooch when visiting the show.

It was created by designer Kristjan Eyjolfsson using 100 percent recycled British white gold with a mix of diamonds and other stones.

In total, there is a single large yellow diamond in the centre, 30 tourmalines, 20 amethysts, 15 diamonds, and 60 sapphires, one for each year of the Queen’s reign.

The Queen Mary’s Turquoise Brooch

Queen Elizabeth II most recently wore this brooch in her address to the nation about the coronavirus pandemic.

This turquoise and diamond piece was first given to her grandmother Mary, who received the brooch in 1893 as a wedding present from her in-laws, the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

It is most likely the brooch passed from Queen Mary to Queen Elizabeth on the formers death in 1953.

However, Elizabeth did not wear it in public until 2014, and it is not in her rotation of most worn brooches like many others are.