The Hidden Meaning Behind the Jewelry in Queen Elizabeth’s Final Portrait

Published Sep 23, 2022

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7:04pm

It’s been a whirlwind ever since the royal family announced that Queen Elizabeth II passed away at age 96. But now that the mourning period is coming to an end, we’re finally ready to revisit her final days.

Shortly after her death, the royal family released what is now considered the last portrait of Queen Elizabeth. (It was taken earlier this year during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.) The pic featured the queen smiling for the camera in a light blue dress. She also sported an aquamarine brooch, in addition to her go-to three-strand pearl necklace and matching earrings.

According to the jewelry experts at U.K. retailer Steven Stone, there’s a special meaning behind the queen’s accessories. “The queen’s Aquamarine Brooch is particularly sentimental as it belonged to her Mother,” they told PureWow. “The eye-catching brooch contains a large emerald-cut aquamarine in the centre, which is surrounded by more perfectly symmetrical emerald and oval-cut aquamarines, dotted with diamonds. Our experts estimate the Aquamarine Brooch to be worth $38,600.”

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Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

The queen’s three-strand pearl necklace also holds major significance because it was a coronation gift from her father, King George VI. “Noting that one single pearl is worth around $3,500, our experts estimate the three-strand necklace to be worth anywhere from $662,000 to $1,103,000,” they added.

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Samir Hussein/WireImage

The monarch’s matching earrings were also a family heirloom. “Given to the queen as a wedding present by her beloved grandmother Queen Mary in 1947, the rubover set round pearl earrings were at the heart of her personal jewelry collection and travelled with her all over the world—featuring a single 12mm pearl with a small diamond on top,” the experts explained. “They were her earrings of choice when it came to daytime engagements.”

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Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Jewelry expert Maxwell Stone added, “All three pieces of jewelry worn in her final portrait have a family connection. It’s incredibly touching that she continued to wear the pieces throughout her adult life and suggests that they were of great sentimental value to her.”

It seems she honored her family until the very end.

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Greta Heggeness

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