The joint portrait was unveiled on Thursday during the royal couple’s visit to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Painted by award-winning portrait artist Jamie Coreth, the picture was commissioned in 2021 by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund as a gift to the county of Cambridgeshire.
So, what do we know about the brooch that Kate’s wearing? Fine jewellery and engagement ring experts at Steven Stone have taken a close look and revealed everything you need to know.
Despite its name, this brooch isn’t connected to Kate Middleton, the current Duchess of Cambridge, the jewel belonged to Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel, the wife of Prince Adolphus, who was the Duke of Cambridge in the 1800’s.
Princess Augusta is seen wearing the brooch in portraits from 1877, before it was passed into the royal collection soon to be worn by Queen Mary to her granddaughter’s (Princess Elizabeth) christening.
“Not only is the Queen’s Duchess of Cambridge brooch one of the most valuable brooches in her collection, but it’s also one of the most historic as it originally belonged to Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel, the wife of Prince Adolphus, who was the Duke of Cambridge in the 1800’s.
Now in possession of the Queen, there’s a lot of sentimentality surrounding the brooch as Queen Mary wore it to her granddaughter’s (Princess Elizabeth) christening. The Queen has worn it in portraits released to mark her 50th birthday, as well as at the funeral of Lord Mountbatten in 1979.
The gorgeous brooch features a large central pearl, surrounded by a ring of diamonds. Hanging from the cluster is another pearl which is connected by a string of even more diamonds.
I’d estimate its value to be £80,000.”
mAXWELL STONE, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, STEVEN STONE
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