History of Famous Jewels and Collections: Re: Fate of the British Royal Jewel Collection

This is my hunch,

We are all in for a big surprise when Her Majesty passes.
Get ready for a very slimmed down royal family. Prince Charles has already been pushing for this with the ousting of Prince Andrew's family.

I think QEII passing will end a long period of grand scale jewels. I wouldn't even be surprised if in the future a museum will house all the brooches and unworn jewels. I think gloves and stocking are next to go. Sadly.

Her majesty hasn't given a thing away to anyone (again non historic pieces) which I think is so odd. They Queen has also have withdrawn from the international royal set. (Wouldn't it have been wonderful to see QEII give Crown Princess Victoria a brooch for her wedding?)

I personally think this future is not very smart. If it was up to me I would put many of the lesser royals to work. using their positions through highly visible charity work and other patronages. And the lesser jewels would be distributed or pooled.

I am not a tax paying supporter of royalty. But if I were. I would rather them live without valets and cooks and instead work (while wearing beautiful jewels! hahaha!)

Previous Message

The British government places great emphasis on taxes and collections such as the royal collection is troublesome if it were to be insured as one would have to spend too much money on insuring these items which makes no real returns and this is why their is no real division between the queen's private jewels and what we know to be crown jewels because I gather it would be untenable for HM or any reigning monarch to pay out millions per year just to ensure items which do not make any real money. I feel there will come a time when the crown jewels may be held by the British museum/s of relics of the past and the then remainder of the royal family will just hold onto a tenth of what they would have accumulated over the centuries, just enough not to break their bank accounts paying to ensure jewels. The royals as we know them may not last past the now PG if he ascends the throne as the world continues to morph into certain orders we cannot imagine. One defunct royal house one may look to for an example is the Greek royal house, but they still retain much of their jewel collection so one wonders how they spend to ensure the jewels security and safe keeping along with taxes and insurance? Maybe like the wealthy Westminster family they have made a deal with the government where taxes are concerned.

Regards,

Dave.

Previous Message

I was thinking this afternoon about QEII latest brooch to debut at the Scottish garden party, and though gee she has a collection. I remember looking at the ‘Dressing the Queen’ book some time ago, and seeing a number of smaller brooches that we have rarely / never seen HM wear. Anyway, it got me to thinking, why HM never seems to pass on any brooches to her grand-daughters etc. For example, I don’t ever recall Princess Beatrice or Eugenie wearing and brooches passed down etc.. I’m not suggesting excessively valuable, or historical pieces, but with such a large collection, it seems a shame for to be stored away.

In the same vein, I wonder whether HM will bequeath many items through her will - somehow I think not. When you think of Queen Mary, you think of the extensive parures that she gave each daughter in law, and then the items she gave Princess Margaret etc... HM doesn’t seem to have this inclination. For example, Sophie, Beatrice, Eugenie, Katherine etc all do not appear to have a simple collet necklace.

I do fear if HM does not distribute much, that it will be generations before we see many pieces again. Let’s face it - Camilla seems to really only prefer her pearl chokers, even though she has numerous coloured gem necklaces. It’s not a criticism, just the way things has gone over the years. Likewise I cannot see Camila gifting / distributing much - she will more play a caretaker role I think. So it may well not until Katherine becomes the new PoW or Queen before we see items dusted off.

These are just my Sunday afternoon thoughts - what do others feel?