King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Australia on Friday 18th October for their first visit since Charles took to the throne.
Today (Monday 21st October) they’re in Canberra for their first full day of royal engagements, with their schedule including visits to the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House and Government House.
As always, it’s Her Majesty’s accessories that captured our gaze and she was wearing a striking diamond brooch with a rich family history.
Leading diamond experts at UK retailer Steven Stone have revealed everything there is to know about the brooch – including its origin and which other royals have worn it.
What we know about the brooch…
This sea-life inspired brooch that Queen Camilla was wearing is officially called the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch.
Made in 1919, it was left to Queen Elizabeth – wife of George VI – in 1944 by Courtauld-Thomsen’s sister, Winifred Hope Thomsen.
The shape, as you may have guessed, represents a scallop-shell and features pavé-set diamonds around a single pearl.
Where have we seen it before?
Queen Elizabeth wore it often, most notably during her 100th birthday celebrations in 2000.
After Queen Elizabeth’s sad passing in 2002, it was passed down to her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. The late monarch wore the brooch to the wedding of Zara and Mike Tindall at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 30th July 2011.
As with many of the late monarch’s treasures, the diamond brooch has been inherited by Queen Camilla, who notably showcased the stunning piece during her first public appearance in Kenya in October 2023.
Her Majesty also wore it for the Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion’s commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer earlier today, during hers, King Charles, and Prince William’s visit to France in June of this year.
“Featuring pave set diamonds around a single pearl, the scallop shell brooch was made in 1919 – it was left to Queen Elizabeth by Courtauld-Thomsen’s sister, Winifred Hope Thomsen. Queen Elizabeth regularly wore the piece, most notably during her 100th birthday celebrations in 2000.
When Queen Elizabeth sadly passed away in 2002, she left the brooch to her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. One of the late monarch’s most valuable brooches, she wore the heirloom to the wedding of Zara and Mike Tindall at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, Scotland in 2011.
As with many of the late monarch’s treasures, the diamond brooch has been inherited by Queen Camilla, who notably showcased the stunning piece during her first public appearance in Kenya in October 2023. She also wore it in June of this year, to a commemorative event in France, marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
I’d estimate the sea life inspired brooch to be worth £30,000 ($36,000).”
maxwell stone, creative director, steven stone
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