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UK royal ladies and ANZAC Day jewels
Posted by Beth on April 24, 2020, 6:48 pm
Tomorrow (25 April) is ANZAC Day in Australia and New Zealand, a day of commemoration for all of our military people who served our countries.
As this year neither country can hold their customary services (new ones are being invented!), I thought I would look to see what jewels the British royal ladies had worn when ever they were involved in ANZAC activities.
There are only a few occasions as, by and large, ANZAC Day is a New Zealand and Australian event, even though services take part in many countries.
King George and Queen Mary attended the first ANZAC Day in London in 1916. Queen Mary is suitably sombre with only two strands of pearls visible.
In 1918 Queen Alexandra was photographed with New Zealand's Sir William Birdwood. I cannot make out any of her jewels.
In 1919 Queen Alexandra was photographed standing in front of the gates at Buckingham Palace. Once again I cannot make out any of her jewels.
QEII was in Hobart (Tasmania) for ANZAC Day in 1988 and wore her pearl trefoil brooch.
QEII attended the Centenary of Gallipoli in London in 2015 and wore QEQM's Cartier Palm Leaf/Paisley brooch.
The only other occasion I identified when a royal lady was present on an occasion associated with the ANZACs was not on an ANZAC Day but at the opening of the War Memorial at Villers Bretonneux during the State Visit to France in 1938.
For this occasion, QEQM wore part of her famous White Wardrobe (she was in mourning for her mother), what we call the Hanoverian pearls and Queen Victoria's bow brooch.
The ANZAC day service takes place annually at Westminster Abbey and is regularly attended by various royals.
Queen Elizabeth attending one such service. The year is either 2004/2005 (because this hat was worn a LOT during those years). HM chose the Carrington feather brooch.
Ms Meghan Markle attended in 2018 with her then fiance Prince Harry a few weeks before their wedding. The only jewel I can identify is her engagement ring.
In 2019 the Duchess of Cambridge attended (the Duke was in Newzealand) with the Duke of Sussex (the Duchess was days away from giving birth). She chose aquamarine/topaz jewels.
In 2014 the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended ANZAC service in Australia. The Duchess chose her sapphire drop earrings, acorn necklace and the enamel poppy/anemone brooch that was presented to her the day before by the wife of Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith.