For a second year the monarch's official birthday celebration, the Trooping of the Colour, has been a scaled back event, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This year QEII chose to wear Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's aquamarine brooch instead of the Guards Badge she has worn for many years.

QEII. Trooping the Colour 2021 at Windsor Castle.


During the week I attempted to find more information to add to the post I did last year on the Guards Badge. (See https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/thread/1591999674.html )

I am now certain that the large (and possibly the small) badge which QEII has worn over the years belonged to Queen Mary.

Last year I highlighted that Queen Alexandra had been given a brooch by the Guards in 1863, and now some experts are suggesting that the large badge is the one given to Queen Alexandra.

As Queen Alexandra presented her badge to the Guards Club in 1920, it cannot be the one worn by Queen Mary, even though the earliest date I have for Queen Mary wearing the large badge is 1927, which is after the death of Queen Alexandra. I acknowledge that I was wrong to suggest last year that perhaps the smaller badge belonged to Queen Alexandra. See https://mb.boardhost.com/historyroyaljewels/msg/1592042417.html

Queen Mary 1927. Badge is on her hat.


Detail


Another crucial aspect overlooked by the experts is the composition of the Guards in 1863. In particular the fact that neither the Irish or Welsh Guards existed at the time.

In the current large badge worn by QEII the badges of The Grenadiers, The Scots Guards, The Irish Guards, the Welsh Guards and the Coldstream Guards feature.

The Irish Guards were founded only in 1900, so their badge would not have featured in the one given to Queen Alexandra in 1863.

Similarly, the Welsh Guards were founded only in 1915, so their badge would not have featured either.

Large Badge currently worn by QEII.


Within this there are the 5 individual Guards badges

More importantly, the badge of the Grenadier Guards at the top in the oval section of the badge features the cypher of George V, not that of Queen Victoria or QEII. The cypher of the reigning monarch is a central part of the Grenadiers' badge.

While the detail below lacks some clarity, GR can clearly be seen.



I am not sure if this badge is of the large or the small badge, but it too has GR.


Both Queen Mary and QEII have worn what appears to be a smaller version of the badge.

Queen Mary in 1938 wearing what looks like a smaller badge.


QEII in 1989 wearing what looks like a smaller badge.


Some have argued that this, smaller, badge was the one given to Princess Mary, Princess Royal when she married in 1922.

Princess Mary's badge


It is possible that Queen Mary may have borrowed her daughter's badge in 1938, but somehow I doubt that occurred.

I am hoping that some who are more interested in military history may have read books or material which might help us identify when Queen Mary received the large and the small badge.