Wrapped in a soft beige coat and coordinating hat, it was a glittering heraldic crown brooch pinned neatly to her lapel that quietly stole focus. The brooch, estimated to be worth around £33,000, is set with sapphire, ruby and emerald studs.
While little is known about the origin it is understood to have first appeared publicly around the time of King Charles III’s coronation.
Since then, it has emerged at moments of significance rather than spectacle, reinforcing the idea that it functions as a personal emblem rather than a showpiece and was reportedly a gift by the King, 77.
Its reappearance felt deliberate. This was a moment about unity, stability and visibility, with the Queen standing firmly beside the King.
What makes the piece especially meaningful is its design. The brooch depicts a Tudor heraldic crown, a motif steeped in royal history and symbolism.
The Tudor crown features prominently in the individual royal cyphers of both King Charles and Queen Camilla, as well as their joint cypher, marking it as a shared insignia of reign and partnership.
The crown itself carries deep historical resonance: often referred to as Henry VIII’s crown, it was a lost royal treasure destroyed during the English Civil War in 1649.
In modern times, the Tudor crown replaced St Edward’s Crown in Queen Elizabeth II’s coat of arms – a change that subtly bridged tradition with evolution.
The brooch was also first spotted in Queen Camilla’s jewellery collection in early 2023, shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II and in the months leading up to the coronation.
She debuted the piece during a visit to an east London mosque, followed by another appearance at one of the Queen’s Reading Room events. From the outset, it stood apart from the better-documented heirlooms of the royal vault.
