158-carat giant that she calls ‘Granny’s Chips’

This glittering gem of a brooch is made from the third and fourth-largest stones cut from the Cullinan diamond, known as the Lesser stars Of Africa. The diamond was found at the Premier Mine near Pretoria, south Africa, in 1905 and named after Thomas Cullinan, the chairman of the company.

The largest stones were reserved for the King, who accepted the gift from the people of south Africa on his 66th birthday in 1907, while these, Cullinan iii and iV, were set temporarily in Queen Mary’s crown for her coronation. she also wore them together as a brooch, which is the form in which the Queen inherited the 158- carat piece from her grandmother in 1953.

she’s said to refer to it in private as ‘Granny’s Chips’, acknowledging the fact that the magnificent diamonds have been ‘chipped’ from a larger stone.

her Majesty doesn’t wear the brooch half-heartedly; as seen here, at a theatre gala in London in 1962, she likes to drape herself in diamonds.

Also on display is her favourite Girls Of Great Britain And ireland tiara, the dazzling George Vi Festoon necklace, given to her by her father in 1950, Queen Mary’s chain-link bracelet and the showstopping Greville chandelier earrings.