King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to undertake their first Visit as Sovereigns to Canada next week, and Queen Camilla will no doubt be wearing the Queen Mother’s Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch, which has now been worn by four (past, current and future) Queens of Canada!
Composed of brilliant and baguette-cut diamonds mounted as a Maple Leaf in platinum by Asprey & Co, the brooch was bought by King George VI for Queen Elizabeth ahead of the Royal Tour of Canada in 1939. The Maple Leaf is a characteristic Canadian symbol, which has been featured on the Canadian Flag since 1965.
Queen Elizabeth wore the Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch on numerous occasions over the month-long Tour of Canada in the Spring of 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War.
Queen Elizabeth wore the Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch on numerous occasions during the Second World War, on her lapel and her hat, including for engagements unrelated to Canada.
The Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch was loaned to Princess Elizabeth for her first Tour of Canada in the Fall of 1951, the only instance of the Brooch being loaned during the Queen Mother’s lifetime.
The Queen Mother continued to wear the Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch during the years of her widowhood, often on visits to Canada and for events related to Canada into the final years of her life.
The Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch was among the jewels inherited by the late Queen in 2002, who wore it at a Ceremony marking the 90th Anniversary of end of the First World War in 2008 and also on her last Tour of Canada in 2010, as well as her Canadian Diamond Jubilee Portrait in 2012.
In 2009, the Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch was loaned to the then Duchess of Cornwall for her first visit to Canada.
The Queen also loaned the Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch to the newlywed Duchess of Cambridge on her first Tour of Canada in 2011, when the Brooch was worn on three different occasions, on arrival, for Canada Day and departure from Calgary.
The Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch was loaned again to the Duchess of Cambridge on her Tour of Canada in 2016, where it was worn for arrival in Victoria, where I was able to compliment the brooch in person, a Reception at Government House, and the Departure.
The Queen also wore the Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch in a video for Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation in 2017, an Audience with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2017, a visit to Canada House, and Royal Ascot in 2018 with a final appearance for an Audience with Prime Minster Justin Trudeau in 2022.
Most recently, Queen Camilla wore the Queen Mother’s Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch for her Official Canadian Portrait, taken by Millie Pilkington in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace in June 2024. There is no doubt we will see the Diamond Maple Leaf Brooch worn again next week!
Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara
Burmese Ruby Tiara
The Belgian Sapphire Tiara
Greville Tiara
Delhi Durbar Tiara
Cubitt-Shand Tiara
Queen’s Five Aquamarine Tiara
George IV State Diadem
Queen Mary’s Crown
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara
The Cartier Halo Tiara
The Lotus Flower Tiara
Strathmore Rose Tiara
King George VI Festoon Necklace
