Have we seen this brooch on royal ladies before QEQM? I am not at all sure, Kongetro. My response is guided by the fact that, so far, I have not seen a clear photo of the brooch QEQM wore on her hat in 1961.

At times I think the brooch on the hat may be the one which QEQM wore during the French State visit.

From some angles the brooch (as seen on QEQM during the French state visit)



resembles the top section of a brooch depicted in the 1930 painting of Queen Mary by David Jagger.



But are we looking at the same brooch? Perhaps we have to take artistic licence into account.

Others have suggested that the top of the brooch in the Jagger portrait is the one Twinning speaks about, which was the one created when Queen Mary had rubies substituted for Queen Victoria's opals in 1926-- that is the brooch which QEQM wore on the centre of her bodice during the French State visit. That is quite likely, but the portrait of Queen Mary may also show a different brooch. I don't know. I think that sorting out all the variations of the ruby brooches which were made from Queen Victoria's opal suite and those worn by QEQM would need expert analysis by some one who had access to the jewel inventories of all the queens and their dress books which showed when they wore which particular jewels.

One thing is obvious from the photos of QEQM during the French State visit -- there were two brooches which existed, making it possible that Queen Mary may have been depicted in the Jagger portrait with the second brooch as the upper portion of the drop ruby brooch.

But was this upper portion the brooch which QEQM wore in her hat in 1961? It is still a mystery to me. Hopefully some of us will find more photos which will help us untangle this mystery.