In celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, jewels from the Queen’s personal collection will go on display this summer at three royal residences. Exhibits will be staged at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, with each exploring a different historic occasion in Queen Elizabeth's 70-year reign.
Read on for a guide to what clothing and jewelry is on display, and where, this summer.
The Diamond Diadem and the Dehli Dubar necklace will be at Buckingham Palace.
In the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, portraits of the Queen taken by photographer Dorothy Wilding just after her accession to the throne will be on view. These portraits will be accompanied by the jewelry she wore in the sittings, including the famous Diamond Diadem.
As the Royal Collection Trust explains, "Wilding’s photographs were used as the basis of the Queen’s image on postage stamps from 1953 until 1971, as well as providing the official portrait of Her Majesty which was sent to every British embassy throughout the world, making the Diadem instantly recognisable to millions of people across the globe."
The Diamond Diadem was created for King George IV in 1821, set with 1,333 brilliant-cut diamonds. The Diadem passed to Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and then to Queen Elizabeth II herself. She wore the diadem at her coronation in 1952, and has since worn it on her journey to and from the annual state openings of Parliament.
Also on display at Buckingham Palace this summer will be the Queen's Delhi Durbar necklace, which is made of nine emeralds originally owned by Queen Mary’s grandmother and an 8.8 carat diamond pendant cut from the Cullinan diamond.
The Queen inherited the Delhi Durbar necklace in 1953; it was originally made for Queen Mary's appearance at the 1911 Delhi Durbar, marking the succession of the new Emperor and Empress of India.
Platinum Jubilee: The Queen’s Accession opens at Buckingham Palace July 22 and runs through October 2.
Queen Elizabeth’s coronation dress and robe will be at Windsor Castle.
At Windsor Castle, the exhibit will focus on Elizabeth's coronation. The dress and robe the Queen wore at her coronation will be displayed.
Also at Windsor will be brooches from the Queen's personal collection, which include:
- The Canadian Maple-leaf Brooch, worn by Princess Elizabeth on her first visit to Canada in 1951
- The Flame-Lily Brooch, the emblem of Zimbabwe, which was pinned to the Queen’s mourning clothes when she returned to Britain from Kenya after the death of her father in 1952
- The New Zealand Silver Fern Brooch, presented to the Queen by the Women of Auckland on Christmas Day, 1953
- The Australian Wattle Brooch (below), presented on Queen Elizabeth's first visit to Australia in 1954
- The Sri Lanka Brooch, presented to the Queen during a State Visit to Sri Lanka in 1981
Platinum Jubilee: The Queen’s Coronation opens at Windsor Castle on July 7 and runs through September 26.
Outfits from previous jubilees will be at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
In Edinburgh at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the exhibit will focus on the Queen's previous jubilees and outfits worn by the Queen will be on display.
Notably, on display for the first time, will be the Queen's Diamond Jubilee ensemble designed by Angela Kelly.
According to the Royal Collection Trust, "alongside the ensembles worn by the Queen will be a selection of gifts presented during official engagements in Scotland, as well as a group of works relating to Her Majesty’s first official visit to Edinburgh in 1953."
Platinum Jubilee display at the Palace of Holyroodhouse will run from July 3 through September 25.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the news writer for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
