King Charles III has just returned from his royal tour of Germany with the Queen Consort, which was their first official state visit since becoming monarchs.
The visit was seen as a celebration of the close ties between the UK and Germany, with the royal couple undertake official engagements in Berlin, Brandenburg and Hamburg.
During the three day tour, Camilla showcased some stylish outfits and we couldn’t take her eyes off the wealth of jewels that she paired them with – from sentimental brooches to historic tiaras.
Having taken a close look at the jewels worn by the Queen Consort during the trip, fine jewellery experts at Steven Stone have revealed everything you need to know about them…
Diamond & Turquoise Brooch
Value: £20,000 ($25,000)
Looking chic in all-blue, Camilla stepped off the plane wearing her Bruce Oldfield dress and a matching hat by designer Philip Treacy. She also accesorised with a very special piece of jewellery – a diamond and turquoise brooch in the shape of a flower.
The brooch belonged to Queen Elizabeth II, who received it as a gift from Queen Mary on her confirmation in 1942, making it both a historic and sentimental piece.
Queen Mary’s jewels tend to only be spotted on special occasions.
“The Queen Consort accesorised her all-blue outfit with a diamond and turquoise brooch in the shape of a flower, that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. The special brooch was reportedly given to the late monarch by her grandmother Queen Mary on her confirmation in 1942.
Though oozing with sentiment, the brooch is quite a simple piece – thus, I’d estimate it to be worth no more than £20,000.”
Maxwell Stone, Creative Director, Steven Stone
Greville Tiara
Value: £15 million ($18.6 million)
Later on, King Charles and Camilla attended a State Banquet welcoming the Royal couple on their first day of the trip hoping to strengthen the relationship between the UK and Germany post-Brexit. Camilla sparkled in a shimmering gown, which she accesorised with one of the biggest sparklers in Britain – the Greville tiara, which is also known as the Boucheron honeycomb tiara.
The tiara consists of a honeycomb and lozenge design with diamonds set in platinum. The edges of the settings around all the stones are millegrain, which gives the effect of even smaller stones framing the larger ones.
The tiara wasn’t always a royal piece. It was made in 1921 by Boucheron for the Hon. Mrs. Greville – a society hostess who was a friend of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth – who left it to Queen Elizabeth when she passed away in 1942.
It became one of the Queen Mother’s favourite pieces and she wore it to a wealth of events across the years – from state visits to concerts and film premieres. Most notably, she wore it to her 100th birthday celebrations.
“One of the biggest sparklers in Britain, the Greville Tiara consists of a honeycomb and lozenge design with diamonds set in platinum. The edges of the settings around all the stones are millegrain, which gives the effect of even smaller stones framing the larger ones.
The tiara wasn’t always a royal piece. It was made in 1921 by Boucheron for the Hon. Mrs. Greville – a society hostess who was a friend of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth – who left it to Queen Elizabeth when she passed away in 1942. Queen Elizabeth II would later inherit it from her Mother and loan it to Camilla when she married the then Prince Charles in 2005.
Featuring 200 carats worth of diamonds, the tiara is nothing short of impressive. Though it’s difficult to put a price on a huge piece like this, I’d estimate it to be worth £15 million.”
Maxwell Stone, Creative Director, Steven Stone
City of London Necklace
Value: £285,000 ($350,000)
The Greville Tiara wasn’t the only jewel that Camilla dazzled with at the State Banquet, she was also wearing the City of London necklace – a glittering fringe necklace that was a favourite in Queen Elizabeth II’s archive of diamonds.
The City of London gifted the breathtaking necklace as a wedding present for a then-Princess Elizabeth, in honour of her nuptials to Prince Phillip. The late monarch wore the sentimental gift on several occasions throughout her reign.
The necklace dates back to the 19th century and was crafted from diamonds set in gold and silver clasps and threaded on a delicate silk chain.
“Camilla’s ever-growing collection of royal jewels includes many of Queen Elizabeth II’s heirlooms and when she attended the State Banquet, she was wearing a necklace that held a deeply personal value to the late monarch.
Gifted to Queen Elizabeth II by the City of London as a wedding present ahead of her nuptials to Prince Phillip in 1947, the necklace was crafted from diamonds set in gold and silver clasps and threaded on a delicate silk chain.
A symbol of her enduring love for the Duke of Edinburgh and a reminder of her wedding day, Queen Elizabeth II wore the dazzling piece many times during her reign – making it a incredibly touching nod to the late monarch from her daughter-in-law.
I’d estimate the piece to be worth £285,000.”
Maxwell Stone, Creative Director, Steven Stone
Clover Brooch
Value: £15,000 ($18,600)
Arriving at Wittenbergplatz alongside King Charles during the second day of their royal tour of Germany, Camilla wore a piece of jewellery that’s both symbolic and touching.
The Queen Consort displayed a brooch from designer Van Cleef & Arpels’ Cosmos collection on her coat that she previously wore to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in 2011.
“The brooch appears to be a combination of a four leaf clover and a flower. The leaves of a four leaf clover symbolise faith, hope, love and luck – adding to the sentiment of the piece as the Queen Consort has worn it during a royal tour, during which her and the King are hoping to strengthen the relationship between the UK and Germany post-Brexit.
Featuring heart-shaped petals, a stem paved in round diamonds, and a round diamond sitting in the center of the petals, I’d estimate the brooch to be worth £15,000.”
Maxwell Stone, Creative Director, Steven Stone
Prince Albert Brooch
Value: £8 million ($9.9 million)
After taking the train from Berlin to Hamburg on their final day in Germany, their majesties braved the rain to lay a wreath at the Kindertransport Monument outside Hamburg Dammtor Station.
Looking a vision in blue, Camilla was wearing an Anna Valentine coat and dress, alongside a particularly historic brooch – the Prince Albert brooch, which dates back to the 1800s.
In 1840, Prince Albert secretly commissioned Garrard to make the sapphire and diamond brooch for his bride to be, Queen Victoria. He gave her the brooch on the night of their wedding, and was so adored by Victoria, that she wore it frequently.
After being passed down to Queen Elizabeth II, it became a staple accessory, featuring in many of her most iconic outfits. Before Camilla, the late monarch had also worn the brooch on a trip to Germany in 2015.
“The brooch contains a large oval or cushion shaped sapphire, which is at least 40cts. The breath-taking gem is surrounded by 12 large diamonds, which look to be around 12cts.
Due to the clarity and intense colour of the sapphire, it was possibly sourced from Burma. If the brooch was to be sold today, it would be worth around £8,000,000, thanks to its historic legacy.”
Maxwell Stone, Creative Director, Steven Stone
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