Thank you for the information especially on the pearl necklaces. Sometimes when I look at my list of QEII’s collection I do wonder if you need that many pearl necklaces or 180 brooches especially when there tends to be so many items that look virtually indistinguishable from each other. No wonder we haven’t seen it all.

I do wonder about the items that QV was given by India, including the description of Disraeli being shown carpet bags brimming full of jewels. I’d like to think that ropes of rubies overflowed but it’s more likely he meant that there were many Morocco leather jewels boxes in bags, being on this site does teach us to try and interpret words and not just go for what we want it to mean.