Another brooch from the Queen Mother
A friend of mine bought a piece from a jewelry designer, Rachel Jeffrey, and while checking her website, I came across another link between the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Rothesay. This link would be elusive, since the Queen Mother never wore this brooch, at least in public.
This designer was commissioned by The Salmon and Trout Association, of which the Queen Mother was a patron, to design a brooch for HM Queen Mother on the occasion of her 100th birthday. The design was based on the fly created by David Fynsong and inspired by the Queen Mother's long association with salmon fishing on the Aberdeenshire Dee. In the the boxed presentation case, a hand tied example of this fly by David Fynsong accompanies the brooch.
From the designers website:
"The brooch is made of solid 18 carat gold. Influenced by the name of the fly, Rachel placed a blue grey pearl at the top to represent the head of the fly. Representing the body the central lattice work is encrusted with tiny sapphires, emeralds and rubies. The shoulders of the wings are set with yellow and white diamonds and a diamond rondel encircles the base pearl. The tail of the fly has been interpreted in 18 carat gold and resembles an inverted crown."
The brooch (1st attachment), and the corresponding sketch by the artist (2nd attachment), both © Rachel Jeffrey, which I re-hosted, to be found in the link posted at the end.
Also from the designer's website:
"The Pearl of the Dee brooch has now been passed on to a new owner in the Royal Family. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall can be seen wearing it in the official engagement photograph of her and Prince Charles taken outside Birkhall in Scotland in February 2005. The photograph can also be seen on the Royal Mail 68 pence stamp, commemorating the Royal Wedding."
Actually I am not totally convinced it is the same brooch, it looks different, but you can see it in the 3rd attachment, photo © Carolyn Robb/Corbis.
Camilla, Duchess of Rothesay also wore this brooch during Prince Charles and Camilla honeymoon, for the opening of the Monaltrie Park children playground in Ballater, Scotland, on the 14th April 2005.
The curious annedocte on this occasion is that the Duchess wore it upside down, as you can tell by the photos in the 4th and 5th attachments, both © Tim Graham/Corbis.
I guess the Prince of Wales just spotted it in the last one...
The link to the designers website:
http://www.racheljeffrey.co.uk/index.htm