World Time

18/06/2026

15/06/2026

For Princess Anne’s wedding to Mark Phillips in 1973, one of the gifts given to her by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was this 18 carat gold clip brooch in stalactite style set with diamonds. A stalactite is the icicle shape formation found hanging in caves. Although it’s creator is unknown, it is a very interesting modern piece and clearly well loved by the Princess Royal.

15/06/2026

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II rides in drizzling weather, accompanied Terry Pendry in the grounds of Windsor Castle, Berkshire March 30, 2007.

15/06/2026

The Imperial State Crown is first worn by a monarch at the end of their coronation ceremony when they leave Westminster Abbey and is used annually at the State Opening of Parliament. This crown was made for the coronation of King George VI in 1937 by Garrard but is closely based on a crown designed for Queen Victoria in 1838 by Rundell. One of the main reasons for remaking the crown was to reduce its weight by 10 ounces and replace some inferior diamonds. It’s current weight is about 2 3/4 lbs. The Crown is formed from an openwork gold frame, set with 2868 diamonds in silver mounts, and coloured stones in gold mounts, including 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 269 pearls. The crown is mounted with several historic stones including: St. Edwards Sapphire, Queen Elizabeth’s Earrings, The Black Prince’s Ruby, The Stuart Sapphire, The Cullinan II. When Her Majesty ascended the throne in 1952, the crown was altered to fit her head and its arches reshaped and lowered. As of 2019, The Queen has chosen not to wear the Imperial State Crown during the State Opening of Parliament probably due to its weight at her age.

15/06/2026

Live this moment captured of The Queen laughing without restraint. What is your favorite memory of Queen Elizabeth II?

15/06/2026

After a month of you all voting for your favorite necklace worn by The Queen, the winner is, The Coronation Necklace. After ascending the throne, Queen Victoria was engaged in a legal battle with her Uncle the King of Hanover over family jewels which he regarded as belonging to Hanover. For a more in depth look at the Hanoverian Claim, check out the saved story about it in my highlights. In 1857 Queen Victoria lost the claim and had to return several jewels including a diamond necklace and earrings that belonged to her grandmother Queen Charlotte. Victoria immediately commissioned Garrard to replace the lost jewels by breaking up “swords and useless things” from her collection. The diamonds in this necklace came were removed from a Garter and a sword hilt. The pendant, known as the Lahore Diamond was taken from the Timur Ruby Necklace. The necklace was considered and heirloom of The Crown and gained its name because it has been worn by every Queen since Victoria at their Coronation. In 1911 Queen Mary had two of the stones removed to create a pair of diamond solitaire earrings but replaced them with three stones from a necklace that belonged to Queen Adelaide. In 1953 a month before the Coronation, Her Majesty had 5 of the stones removed bringing it to its currently length of 25 diamonds.

15/06/2026

The Delhi Durbar necklace is my favorite piece of royal jewelry. I was glad to see that Queen Mary didn’t gift this to anyone apart from her beloved granddaughter.

15/06/2026

In the 1930’s The Queen Mother acquired this diamond and aquamarine Art Deco style brooch and wore it often until the 1950’s when it seems to have fallen out of favor. It was inherited by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 and she wore it frequently in the last few years before her death.

15/06/2026

Through decades of change, her calm presence remained a comforting constant. Even today, many still miss her warm smile, unwavering sense of duty, and the quiet strength that defined an extraordinary reign. What do you miss most about Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II?

15/06/2026

The brooch was made by Cartier in 1938 using her collection of diamonds held for her by the firm. The oriental palm leaf design was inspired by the principal element of an Indian turban ornament, or sarpech, a cone shape bent over at the point, imitating the Kashmiri palm. The Queen Mother wore the brooch throughout her life, one of the most significant occasions being at the funeral of King George VI. The brooch was inherited by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2002.