Queen Camilla wears iconic jewel not seen since Elizabeth II’s funeral

The Queen, 78, wore Queen Victoria’s Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch, which was last seen on Camilla’s lapel at Westminster Abbey for Elizabeth II’s funeral.

The diamond brooch, which features an open pendant heart, was designed and created by Fabergé, a Russian jewellery firm founded in 1842.

True to its heritage, the brooch contains the number 60 in Slavic characters at its centre.

As well as diamonds, the jewel features a large cabochon sapphire above its open heart and two large pear-shaped drop sapphires below.

It was gifted to Queen Victoria in 1897 by four of her grandchildren to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee.

These included Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine, Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine.

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Upon Queen Victoria’s death, the brooch was inherited by her daughter, Princess Helena, who then passed it on to her child, Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein.

There are multiple theories as to how the brooch came to be in Queen Camilla’s possession, including one that Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein willed it to the Queen Mother, who then passed it on to Queen Elizabeth II.

Camilla wore the design for the first time in 2007 when she was the Duchess of Cornwall, during a state visit to the United States.

She subsequently wore it several times over the next 15 years, most notably at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

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It has now made a reappearance for Holocaust Memorial Day alongside her husband, King Charles.

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place every year on January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The day commemorates the six million Jewish peoplemurdered during the Holocaust, and the millions more murdered under Nazi persecution.

The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 is Bridging Generations, which encourages the next generations to listen, learn and carry forward the lessons from the Holocaust.

During the reception, the King viewed portraits of seven Holocaust survivors, honoured for services to Holocaust awareness and education.

These paintings were commissioned by Charles when he was Prince of Wales, and are currently on display in the East Wing of Buckingham Palace.

Following the portrait viewing, the King and Queen met some of their Patronages who are working to educate future generations about the Holocaust, including Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, Anne Frank Trust UK and The Holocaust Educational Trust.

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Camilla also viewed the painting, Anne Frank: Resistance, a portrait of Anne Frank by Peter Sacks, created for the Anne Frank Trust UK.

Finally, King Charles and Queen Camilla lit candles as a symbolic act of remembrance and hope for the future.