In a Winterhalter portrait of the Duchess from around 1846, she was depicted wearing this substantial diamond brooch, which looks similar in size and style to the large diamond brooch later worn by Queen Alexandra, including in her 'mystery' necklace.
The executor of the Duchess’ will was her son-in-law and nephew, Prince Albert, who was responsible for diving up her jewels before his own death a few months later. The wonderful Beth searched through Queen Victoria's Journals and found that in 1863, Queen Victoria gave a ‘pin’, which the Duchess of Kent had left to Prince Albert, as a wedding gift to Princess Alexandra on the eve of her wedding to the Prince of Wales. Because it was such a personal gift, it was not included in the official gift list.
Queen Alexandra prominently wore the brooch (and the necklace) for decades, even after becoming Queen, though its current location is unknown. While it may still be in the British Royal Vault, I think it may have been remade (along with some other elements that made up the 'mystery' necklace) into Queen Alexandra’s Diamond Circlet.
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