Stunning diamond pieces from Queen’s jewellery collection to go on display
Platinum Jubilee: The Queen’s Accession is included in a visit to the summer opening of the state rooms at Buckingham Palace from July 22-October 2.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Dazzling jewellery from the Queen’s personal collection is to go on display during the summer opening of Buckingham Palace’s state rooms.
The bracelets, tiaras and brooches will appear alongside photographs of the Queen that feature the pieces made from diamonds, emeralds and pearls.
The photographs, taken by acclaimed society photographer Dorothy Wilding, will be familiar as they were used to produce stamps and banknotes featuring images of the head of state.
Exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut said: “The images are really important and instantly recognisable because they were used on banknotes, coinage and form the basis of the Queen’s image on postage stamps – therefore reproduced millions of times across the United Kingdom and abroad.
“They have really stood the test of time and have become the most recognisable, and the most famous images of the Queen probably for the first quarter century of her reign up until the time of her Silver Jubilee.”
A highlight of the exhibition is the photograph of the Queen wearing her Diadem set with 1,333 diamonds, which she wore for the journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey on the day of her coronation in 1953.
It was made for George IV to wear at his 1821 coronation by the royal jewellers and goldsmiths, Rundell, Bridge and Rundell but it was obscured by a large hat decorated with ostrich feather.
Wilding had been photographing royalty since the 1920s and in May 1937 became the first official female royal photographer when she was asked to mark the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
An 11-year-old Princess Elizabeth featured in the pictures along with her sister Princess Margaret and the exhibition will include the embellished cream dress, purple robe and gold coronet worn by the future Queen for the photo shoot.
Ten years later in July 1947, Wilding took the official engagement portrait for the then Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten.
The image is part of the exhibition and contrasts with modern photographs marking a royal marriage with the duke, arms folded, staring intently at the lens while his expressionless future wife stands in front of him.
Just 20 days after her father died and she became monarch, Wilding was commissioned by the General Post Office to take the first official picture of the new Queen Elizabeth for the design of postage stamps.
The Queen is wearing another recognisable piece, the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, a wedding gift from the Queen’s grandmother Queen Mary, that can be seen in images of the Queen on today’s bank notes.
The monarch’s final sitting with Wilding was in May 1956 for new banknotes and in the images, which were not used, the Queen wears the Vladimir Tiara and the spectacular Delhi Durbar necklace that incorporates nine emeralds and an 8.8 carat diamond pendant, a piece of the Cullinan diamond, the world’s largest diamond.
Also part of the display are the official photographs marking the Queen’s Silver, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees from across the decades.
Craft fans will be delighted by a large table laden with food for a jubilee street party from sandwiches, cakes and bowls of strawberries to chocolate fingers and scotch eggs all made from felt by installation artist Lucy Sparrow.
Her work was on display when the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited a Big Lunch event at the Oval cricket ground during the Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations.
She said about the royal couple: “They instantly got it and the Prince of Wales wanted to know how the crisps were made.
“It was very important to me that it was a working class party with hula hoops and cake and cups of tea, very relatable and celebratory.”
Platinum Jubilee: The Queen’s Accession is included in a visit to the summer opening of the state rooms at Buckingham Palace from Friday July 22 until October 2.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.