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Queen Elizabeth. Glasgow thistle brooch
Posted by Beth on May 20, 2021, 3:46 pm
On 28 May 1951 QEII, then Princess Elizabeth,visited Glasgow to open the "Exhibition of Industrial Power" at Kelvin Hall in the city. Afterwards she opened the King George V Memorial Playing Fields and visited soldiers wounded in the Korean War.
At the opening of the playing fields, the Lord Provost of Glasgow presented her with a "diamond brooch in the shape of a thistle". I have never found an image of the brooch presented on that day, but I believe it was this brooch.
Identifying the provenance of this brooch has eluded commentators. The Queen's Jewel Vault site has an item on it, and some commentators identified that QEII wore it at Balmoral in 1952 when she was photographed with her guest, King Faisal of Iraq.
On the evening of 28 May 1951 the then Princess attended a civic reception wearing the brooch in addition of the Greville ruby necklace. It is difficult to see the precise details of the brooch as, unfortunately, the photos were taken from a distance. Equally unfortunate is the fact that, until the advent of modern digital photography, this brooch didn't show clearly in photographs; often the diamond sections almost disappear.
Detail from above
QEII was reported to have worn the brooch again on the following day when she visited Perth. To date I haven't found any photos where HM's brooch is visible.
HM was photographed wearing the brooch on several occasions while at Balmoral.
In 1952 during the visit of King Faisal.
1953 at Balmoral
HM wore it in 1953 at the Braemar Games
and in 1958
In 1955 HM wore it when she launched the Empress of Britain at Clydebank.
In July 1958 the Queen again teamed the brooch with the Greville ruby necklace when she and the Duke attended the Scottish Royal Variety Show in Glasgow.
By November 1979 improvements in photography made it easier to spot this brooch being worn.
HM in Glasgow in November 1979
The brooch was selected for when HM was in Glasgow on 23 May 2002, when the photographer managed to capture some very good shots.
Similarly for the Ceremony of the Keys at Holyroodhouse on 23 May 2002.
And also for the garden party there in July 2013
Re: Queen Elizabeth. Glasgow thistle brooch. Video of launch of Empress of Britain