I hope that I have understood Dave's comments correctly. If not, please accept my apologies Dave.

Here is the 2nd last photo in my post above. The photo was (I believe) found by Dmitry and reposted on the Instagram site, BritishRoyalJewels. The finding of this photo was significant, as it completely revolutionised thinking about the origin of this brooch.


Here is an enlarged detail, showing that the brooch is the same as the one worn in the wing tiara. The bows are the very distinctive feature of this brooch. It is the one which was later worn by Princess Margaret.



Here is the enlarged detail I made of another version of the photo of the Royal family at Sandringham, Christmas 1951. (It is the one in my RJWMB post which Dave gave the link for) In this image the sapphire looks more like that in the brooch referred to above. (I think it was Ashdean who identified the brooch some years ago. Or am I wrong on that?)



The quality of both versions of the photo makes it almost impossible to be certain about which brooch Queen Mary was wearing, but most accept that it was the brooch worn in the wing tiara -- as Ashdean suggested in his reply above. https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/msg/1600022303.html Although Ashdean wasn't being categorical, I have found over the years that his modestly phrased suggestions are usually accurate.

Dave, I am not sure which image you were referring to regarding the brooch pinned to the centre of Queen Mary's dress.

Could it be this one, where HM is seen at a theatre with her brother and Princess Alice? I think that Queen Mary was wearing what we refer to as the Russian sapphire brooch.

What do others think?



I don't think that the brooch we are discussing is the one worn by Princess Diana, as I agree with Franck that it first appeared being worn by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. I don't think that it was ever in Queen Mary's possession -- but I know I could be wrong. But, the evidence Franck produced some time ago is very strong.