All eyes may have been focused on King Charles and his historic Throne Speech, only the first time in Canadian history that a king has delivered the speech—and only the third overall delivered by the Sovereign—but Queen Camilla’s quiet Canadian touches showcased her enduring relationship with the realm.
Eschewing more widely-known Canadian brooches, like the Diamond Maple Leaf brooch which she’d worn on Monday, or the Sapphire Jubilee Snowflake brooch that was presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II as a gift from Canada for her Platinum Jubilee, for the Opening of Parliament, Queen Camilla paid tribute to her own personal connection with Canada: she wore The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada brooch.
Queen Camilla has been Colonel-in-Chief of the Rifles since 2010. The Rifles date back to before Canada was recognised as the country it is today, formed in 1860, and is the longest-serving infantry regiment. Today it is headquartered in Toronto.
The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Brooch is also called the Pellatt brooch and is covered in diamonds and crafted with silver. It resembles the cap badge of The Queen’s Own Rifles, which is shaped into a maple leaf with the Crown at the top. In the centre, the number 2 signifies the original battalion number.
Queen Camilla has worn The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada brooch on several occasions since becoming Colonel-in-Chief. In Toronto in 2012, her first visit to Canada following her appointment saw her wear it publicly for the first time. Throughout the years, as she represents the Canadian military, she wears it at ceremonial events.
Touching down in Ottawa on Monday afternoon, Queen Camilla carried on the storied tradition of wearing the Diamond Maple Leaf brooch with her trademark pastel dress.
Since it was first gifted to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother ahead of her own successful Canadian tour in 1939, it has been worn by successive royal women on their trips to Canada. Queen Elizabeth II wore it frequently; as Duchess of Cornwall, the current queen wore it as well; and the now-Princess of Wales has worn it on both of her official visits to Canada, in 2011 and 2017.
