Camilla has appeared on the front cover of the Christmas and New Year issue of Good Housekeeping.
Wearing festive red, the Queen Consort accesorised with a ballerina brooch from one of her favourite jewellery brands, Van Cleef & Arpels.
The Queen Consort has been wearing and collecting Van Cleef & Arpels pieces for years and recently wore a similar brooch from the collection to present an award to dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov at Buckingham Palace.
Taking a close look at the intricate brooch, fine jewellery and engagement ring experts at Steven Stone have revealed everything you need to know.
According to a statement shared by publisher Hearst, the late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II granted her blessing for the popular women’s interest magazine to produce a special issue “championing royal women and, crucially, raising awareness around important social causes” for the publication’s 100th anniversary this year and in connection with her Platinum Jubilee.
In the issue, Camilla discusses the work of the domestic abuse charity Safe Lives to raise awareness of their important work. For many years, the Queen Consort has highlighted the work of domestic abuse charities and the work they do to support survivors, both in the UK and overseas, with the aim of breaking the taboo around the subject.
Camilla’s golden ballerina brooch shows a ballerina holding her tutu, with her ankles crossed as she dances and is set with diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. Dating back to the 1940s, it’s an heirloom from Camilla’s own family.
The tutu is adorned with rows of sapphires and rubies, as well as studs of diamonds. The ballerina’s face is composed of a single large diamond, alongside a headband of rubies – her dresses sleeves also feature the red stones.
The piece was created by one of the world’s most famous jewellery brands, Van Cleef and Arpels and is part of their Bouton d’or collection, which is inspired by the curved lines of the paillette motif.
The first versions of the piece were made in New York in 1940 and various versions of the piece have been created by the French jewellers since, with each one depicting dancers in various poses, made with precious stones.
Camilla also wore the brooch yesterday as she got into the festive spirit at Clarence House, decorating the tree and petting reindeers – the Queen Consort was joined by Father Christmas, as well as children supported by Helen and Douglas House and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity
A similar brooch that Camilla recently wore to present an award to dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov at Buckingham Palace retails for £72,000 on the brand’s website.
“It’s wonderful to see Camilla on the front cover of Good Housekeeping and as always, she chose a stunning piece of jewellery to show off.
The Queen Consort accessorised with a golden ballerina brooch that’s set with diamonds, sapphires and rubies. Dating back to the 1940s, the intricate piece was created by one of Camilla’s favourite jewellery brands, Van Cleef and Arpels.
For Camilla to wear the brooch for such an important photograph, it must hold a special place in her heart – even more so as the Queen Consort wore the piece again yesterday at Clarence House, where she as she decorated the Christmas tree and petted reindeers with children’s charities.
It’s difficult to value this piece as the Van Cleef & Arpels ballerina pieces are often unique, but a similar brooch is currently retailing for £72,000 on the brand’s website.”
maxwell stone, creative director, steven stone
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