Royal jewels with a story: Buckingham Palace to host a unique exhibition
From coronation regalia to personal keepsakes
Buckingham Palace is preparing to host an extraordinary exhibition entitled «Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes», dedicated to the jewellery of the British royal family.
The exhibition will feature more than 300 pieces associated with monarchs ranging from Henry VIII to Elizabeth II. According to the BBC, it will be the first exhibition of its kind on such a scale, with more than half of the items going on public display for the first time.
One of the centrepieces will be the diamond diadem of George IV, created especially for his coronation in 1821. It is adorned with more than 1,000 diamonds and 169 natural pearls. The diadem later acquired special significance for Elizabeth II, too: the Queen was depicted wearing it on coins, banknotes and postage stamps.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to see Queen Victoria’s small diamond crown. It was so closely associated with the monarch’s image that it was placed on her coffin after her death.
The exhibition will also showcase jewellery belonging to British queens and royal consorts, from Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz to Elizabeth II. This selection offers a glimpse into the changing tastes of the royal court over the centuries, from the grandeur and sentimental designs of the Victorian era to the geometric forms of Art Deco and the styles of the mid-20th century.
A garnet jewellery set will also be displayed publicly for the first time. Recent research has linked the pieces to Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III.
A special section will be devoted to jewellery that preserves intimate memories of the relationship between Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert. Among the pieces is a sapphire-and-diamond brooch that Albert gave Victoria shortly before their wedding.
Another treasured memento is a bracelet featuring small stones collected by the couple during their first trip together after their marriage. The collection also includes a brooch containing the first baby tooth of their eldest daughter. According to rumour, Prince Albert pulled the tooth himself.
This section of the exhibition will conclude with Victoria’s mourning ring, which features a photograph of her husband and the couple’s intertwined initials. The Queen wore it after Albert’s death in 1861, when he was just 42 years old.
The exhibition will open on 25 June 2027 at The King’s Gallery and will run for nine months.
Photo: Royal Collection Trust
