Queen Camilla makes striking jewellery choice to hear King Charles speech

Dorothy Reddin
Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:20:14 +0000

Queen Camilla selected a striking piece of royal jewellery for King Charles's address to Congress this evening, fastening the Queen Mother's Art Deco brooch to her outfit.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen wore an Anna Valentine cream coat and dress featuring black detailing for the occasion.

The brooch, which combines rock crystal with diamonds, was formerly owned by the Queen Mother but now forms part of King Charles's personal collection.

The piece features a central diamond surrounded by an oblong diamond frame, with what are believed to be onyx studs encircling the main stone.

Decorative work on the crystal's reverse creates additional depth.

The brooch's precise origins remain uncertain, though the Queen Mother, then Duchess of York, was first photographed wearing it during the 1920s.

Queen Camilla has worn the Art Deco piece on several previous occasions, including a visit to an animal rescue centre in London in 2010 and during her inaugural state visit to Paris in 2023.

The choice of this particular jewel carries considerable weight during the American State Visit, serving as a tribute to the Queen Mother.

Throughout the visit, Queen Camilla has made meaningful selections from the royal jewellery collection, having already worn two other historical brooches in under 24 hours.

King Charles referenced his grandparents' historic 1939 visit during his Congressional address, drawing parallels between past and present challenges.

He told lawmakers: "The first reigning British Sovereign to set foot in America was my Grandfather, King George VI.

"He visited in 1939 with my beloved Grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

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"The forces of Fascism in Europe were on the march, and some time before the United States had joined us in the defence of freedom. Our shared values prevailed.

"Today, we find ourselves in a new era, but those values remain."

The King has become only the second British monarch to address a joint session of Congress, following Queen Elizabeth's 1991 speech at the Capitol.