The Queen paid tribute to her parents today by wearing a rarely seen ruby and saphhire flower brooch given to them on her 19th birthday as she attended the Royal Chelsea Flower Show.

The monarch, 96, donned the pretty floral brooch, made with pink and blue sapphires, rubies and diamonds, as she arrived at the event in London this evening.

The piece, which was made by Cartier, was a birthday gift to then-Princess Elizabeth from her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, in 1945 when she was just 19-years-old. The jewel is rarely worn by Her Majesty.

 

The Queen arrived at the Chelsea Flower Show in a luxury buggy for a royal preview ahead of tomorrow’s official opening, Buckingham Palace confirmed tonight after a last-minute decision was made for her to attend.

The Queen, 96, paid tribute to her late parents today by wearing a rarely seen ruby and saphhire flower brooch given to them on her 19th birthday as she attended the Royal Chelsea Flower Show


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The Queen, 96, paid tribute to her late parents today by wearing a rarely seen ruby and saphhire flower brooch given to them on her 19th birthday as she attended the Royal Chelsea Flower Show

The monarch donned the pretty floral brooch, made with pink and blue sapphires, rubies and diamonds, as she arrived at the event in London this evening
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The monarch donned the pretty floral brooch, made with pink and blue sapphires, rubies and diamonds, as she arrived at the event in London this evening

Made by Cartier, the Queen reportedly received the exquisite present alongside a pair of earrings.

The elegant design mimics a stunning bouquet of flowers and made its rare appearance as the Queen visited garden displays in honour of her Platinum Jubilee at the flower show.

Her brooch was pinned to her pink coat and was crafted from pink and blue sapphires with rubies surrounding each diamond in the centre.

The stems and leaves of the brooch have one leaf of pavé-set diamonds.

Her brooch was pinned to her pink coat and was crafted from pink and blue sapphires with rubies surrounding each diamond in the centre
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Her brooch was pinned to her pink coat and was crafted from pink and blue sapphires with rubies surrounding each diamond in the centre

The piece, which was made by Cartier, was a birthday gift to then-Princess Elizabeth from her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, in 1945 when she was just 19-years-old (pictured)
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The piece, which was made by Cartier, was a birthday gift to then-Princess Elizabeth from her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, in 1945 when she was just 19-years-old (pictured)

Beaming Queen tours the gardens at Chelsea on a buggy

The Queen last wore the special brooch during her 2011 tour of Australia, but before that hadn’t worn the piece since her Christmas broadcast in 1990.

The head of state has gone to the world-famous event in London run by the Royal Horticultural Society, of which she is a patron, more than 50 times in her 70-year reign – but recent ill health had made her presence uncertain.

But breaking out in a warm smile as she was pictured on Monday, the monarch, 96, who has battled mobility issues that caused her to miss recent royal events such as the State Opening of Parliament, wore a fuchsia coat paired with white gloves as she was seen on the adapted vehicle.

It is believed to be the first public occasion that Her Majesty has opted for her new £62,000 four-seater vehicle dubbed the ‘Rolls Royce’ of premium golf carts.

Also in attendance at the Chelsea Flower Show on Monday was Prince Edward and wife Sophie Countess of Wessex, as well as Princess Beatrice and her husband Eduardo Mapelli Mozzi.

The Queen looked cheery as she enjoyed a tour around the 2022 Chelsea Flower Show. Pictured next to the President of the Royal Horticultural Society, Keith Weed
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The Queen looked cheery as she enjoyed a tour around the 2022 Chelsea Flower Show. Pictured next to the President of the Royal Horticultural Society, Keith Weed

The Queen enjoyed looking at the beautiful displays at Chelsea Flower Show while being given a tour by Keith Weed, the President of the Royal Horticultural Society while sat on her buggy
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The Queen enjoyed looking at the beautiful displays at Chelsea Flower Show while being given a tour by Keith Weed, the President of the Royal Horticultural Society while sat on her buggy

The Earl of Wessex was pictured smelling the latest flower to be planted in the rose garden at Buckingham Palace on Monday, the John Ystummlyn rose, named after one of Britain’s first black gardeners.

The Queen said in a statement today: ‘I am pleased that the John Ystumllyn rose is being planted in the Buckingham Palace Gardens today. The rose has been bred as a mark of friendship and community, and I hope guests and visitors to the garden will have the opportunity to reflect on what this rose represents for many years to come.’

Princess Beatrice looked a picture in a blue floral dress, as she visited The Mind Garden, designed by Andy Sturgeon.

This year the Chelsea Flower Show has made many nods to the Queen for her Platinum Jubilee year, including the entrance which has purple flowers donning the archway, topped with golden crowns to mark her 70th year on the throne.