Happy Birthday to Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom, who turns 76 today! While the Queen can magnificently carry off some massive Tiaras and has a large collection of chokers and modern jewels among a series of royal heirlooms, she also wears some splendid heirlooms from her own family, which include this spectacular Turquoise Suite!
Queen Mary’s Crown | Belgian Sapphire Tiara | Greville Tiara | Cubitt-Shand Tiara | Delhi Durbar Tiara | Tiaras | Coronation Necklace | Greville Festoon Necklace | Modern Diamond Suite | King George VI Sapphire Suite | Turquoise Suite | Chokers | Prince Albert’s Sapphire Brooch | Diamond Sunburst Brooch | Diamond Thistle Brooch | Queen Victoria’s Hessian Diamond Jubilee Brooch | Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch | Rock Crystal Brooch | Celtic Knot Brooch
Unlike the Cubitt-Shand Tiara, which originates from her maternal family, this spectacular Turquoise and Diamond Necklace, which is composed of large turquoises ringed with diamonds set in-between diamond fringes, originates from the family of Queen Camilla’s father, Major Bruce Shand. The Turquoise and Diamond which are always worn with the necklace are of a different style and seem to have been acquired separately.
One of the earliest public appearences of the Turquoise Necklace and Earrings was when the then Camilla Parker Bowles wore the Suite for the Prince of Wales’ 50th Birthday at Highgrove.
Camilla Parker Bowles also wore her Turquoise Necklace and Earrings when attended a Charity Gala with Elton John at Somerset House in 2002.
Following her Wedding to the Prince of Wales in 2005, the then Duchess of Cornwall wore her Turquoise Suite with the Cubitt-Shand Tiara for her first Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace.
Around that time, the Duchess of Cornwall wore the Turquoise Suite for a series of portraits taken by Mario Testino at Clarence House.
In 2012, the Duchess of Cornwall wore her Turquoise Necklace and Earrings for a Gala Dinner hosted by King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway at the Royal Palace of Oslo, during an Official Visit to Norway.
Later that same year, the Duchess of Cornwall wore the Turquoise Suite was worn for the Sun Military Awards at the Imperial War Museum, which was its last major public appearence of the Necklace.
However, the Turquoise Earrings have often been worn, mostly for daytime appearences, in recent years. While Queen Camilla has been debuting new pieces from the Royal Collection in recent months, lets hope she wears this family heirloom again soon.
Queen Mary’s Crown | Belgian Sapphire Tiara | Greville Tiara | Cubitt-Shand Tiara | Delhi Durbar Tiara | Tiaras | Coronation Necklace | Greville Festoon Necklace | Modern Diamond Suite | King George VI Sapphire Suite | Turquoise Suite | Chokers | Prince Albert’s Sapphire Brooch | Diamond Sunburst Brooch | Diamond Thistle Brooch | Queen Victoria’s Hessian Diamond Jubilee Brooch | Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch | Rock Crystal Brooch | Celtic Knot Brooch