EARRINGS WITH ELAN — THANKS TO QUEEN MARY

A chAnge from her preferred pendants, these striking gems are Queen Mary’s Floret earrings, which the Queen inherited from her grandmother on her death in 1953.

The brilliant diamonds at the centre of each began as a pair of solitaire earrings, given to Queen Mary for her wedding in 1893 by eminent Scottish shipowner Sir William Mackinnon.

not quite to her taste, Queen Mary arranged for the stones to be reset within a double row of diamonds in 1922, and again inside these seven flower petals in 1939. The alterations were all carried out by royal jeweller garrard, which charged £50 (more than £3,000 today) for the service.

Apparently impressed with her grandmother’s improvements, the Queen hasn’t made any further changes to the jewels.

Because of their simple style, she wears them to formal occasions, such as state openings of Parliament and the annual garter Service.

here, during her tour of Australia in 1954, the 28- year- old Queen pairs them with the girls of great Britain and Ireland tiara.