Today marks the anniversary of the Birth of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was born on this in 1926! The oldest and longest reigning British Monarch had one of, if not the, largest jewellery collections, and today’s piece is one that had been in her jewellery box for over five decades, the Queen’s Godman Emerald Necklace!
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara | Vladimir Tiara | Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara | Belgian Sapphire Tiara | Burmese Ruby Tiara | Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara | Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara | Cambridge Emerald Parure | Coronation Necklace | George VI Festoon Necklace | Godman Emerald Necklace | Three-Strand Pearl Necklace | The Jewels of Queen Elizabeth II
A striking Emerald and Diamond Necklace composed of scroll from which seven diamond and emerald pendants are suspended, it was acquired by Frederick DuCane Godman in Bavaria in the 1890s, who believed it could be traced back to Empress Joséphine. In 1965, Godman’s two daughters decided to gift the necklace to the Queen, and while the provenance to Empress Joséphine could not be confirmed, the Queen was nevertheless delighted to receive the Necklace, and invited the sisters to Buckingham Palace to thank them personally.
The Queen debuted the Godman Emerald Necklace with the Vladimir Tiara for a State Banquet at Rideau Hall in Canada, during the Canadian Centenary Celebrations in 1967.
The Queen also wore the Godman Emerald Necklace with Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara for a Banquet at the splendid Schonbrunn Palace in 1969, during the British State Visit to Austria.
Three years later, the Queen again wore the Godman Emerald Necklace with Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara for a Banquet during the German State Visit to Britain in 1972.
The Queen also paired the Godman Emerald Necklace with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara for Gala Performance at some point in the 1970s.
The Queen honoured the disputed French connection by pairing the Godman Emerald Necklace with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara for a Banquet hosted by French President François Mitterrand at the French Embassy in London, during a French State Visit to Britain in 1984.
In 1987, the Queen wore the Godman Emerald Necklace with Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara for a State Banquet in honour of the Saudi King at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen also honoured the French connection by wearing the Godman Emerald Necklace for a Gala Dinner in honour of the French President Jacques Chirac at Windsor Castle, to celebrate the centenary of the Entente Cordiale.
The Godman Emerald Necklace has remained in the vaults for the past two decades, but since Queen Camilla has been debuting several royal heirlooms in recent months, which have included the Queen Mother’s Cartier Bracelets, the Greville Ivy Leaf Clips, Queen Alexandra’s Aquamarine and Diamond Brooch, the Queen’s Cartier Gold and Sapphire Flower Brooches, and Queen Mary’s Emerald and Sapphire Flower Brooch, lets hope this will reappear again soon!
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara | Vladimir Tiara | Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara | Belgian Sapphire Tiara | Burmese Ruby Tiara | Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara | Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara | Cambridge Emerald Parure | Coronation Necklace | George VI Festoon Necklace | Godman Emerald Necklace | Three-Strand Pearl Necklace | The Jewels of Queen Elizabeth II
