Queen wears 18th birthday brooches from late father to view Jubilee cards
The aquamarine and diamond clip brooches were a gift to Princess Elizabeth from George VI in 1944.
The Queen paid a touching tribute to her late father, whose death began the start of her reign, when she viewed Jubilee memorabilia as she prepares to reach her historic 70 years on the throne.
Her aquamarine and diamond clip brooches, worn separately in a diagonal setting on her turquoise dress, were an 18th birthday present from her beloved “Papa”, George VI, in April 1944.
The two art deco-style pieces were made by Boucheron from baguette, oval and round diamonds and aquamarines.
She also chose to wear the precious brooches when she addressed the nation on the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 2020 and for her Diamond Jubilee televised speech in 2012.
Elizabeth II came to the throne 70 years ago this Sunday when, on February 6 1952, the ailing king, who had lung cancer, died at Sandringham in the early hours.
They had spent the previous night at the remote Treetops Hotel, accessible via a ladder, in Aberdare Forest, where they watched baboons in the jungle and took photographs of the sunrise.
The Queen, who is staying on the Sandringham estate, usually spends each Accession Day privately, reflecting on the bittersweet anniversary of the loss of her father and the start of her reign.
Close to her father as a child, Elizabeth is said to be similar to him in character, sharing the same dedicated professionalism.
Faced with the challenge of restoring the public’s faith in the monarchy, George VI emerged as a steadfast figurehead for the nation during the Second World War.
