The world's first exhibition dedicated to exploring 500 years of British royal jewellery is set to open its doors at Buckingham Palace next year. Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes will unite more than 300 pieces – two-thirds of which will be displayed publicly for the first time – worn by monarchs ranging from Henry VIII to Charles II, and Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II.
This groundbreaking showcase, featuring adornments spanning the 16th century to the present day, will delve into the personal stories behind the royal jewels of "love and loss, power and politics, family and faith", according to its curators.
Highlights Include Diamond Diadem and Queen Victoria's Crown
Taking centre stage in The King's Gallery will be the celebrated Diamond Diadem, crafted for George IV's lavish coronation and subsequently immortalised on coins, banknotes and stamps bearing the likeness of Elizabeth II.
Visitors will additionally have the opportunity to view Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown, so intrinsically linked to the 19th-century monarch that it was placed upon her coffin during her lying in state. The cufflinks believed to have been worn by Charles I on the scaffold at his execution in 1649 and handed to his devoted supporters will be put on public display for the very first time.
At the core of this landmark exhibition will be a collection of jewellery connected to every queen and consort from Queen Charlotte to Elizabeth II, charting shifting fashions from Georgian splendour and Victorian sentimentality to sleek Art Deco aesthetics and bold mid-century designs.
Curators Highlight Personal Stories Behind the Jewels
Caroline de Guitaut and Kathryn Jones, co-curators of the exhibition, said: "This unprecedented exhibition will bring together some of the most important and spectacular royal jewels in British history, many never exhibited publicly before. Each jewel carries with it a human story: of love and loss, power and politics, family and faith. Together, they have borne witness to the defining moments of royal lives and offer a deeply personal insight into the individuals and relationships that have shaped the monarchy across generations."
Pieces will include, for the first time, Queen Charlotte's collection of garnet jewellery, recently linked to George III's wife through new research, alongside Queen Alexandra's gold articulated serpent bracelet, adorned with diamonds and a black pearl. A Fabergé aquamarine and diamond pendant gifted to the future Elizabeth II by her grandmother Queen Mary will feature amongst the exhibits, together with the dazzling Greville emerald and diamond necklace, part of Dame Margaret Greville's renowned bequest to the Queen Mother, and worn by Elizabeth II.
Poignant Mementoes of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Poignant mementoes associated with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, capturing moments of love, loss and family life, will also be displayed. Notable items include Victoria's first ring – a flowerhead adorned with five emeralds forming the petals around a single ruby – which she wore during infancy, and the diamond and sapphire brooch Albert presented to Victoria on the eve of their wedding.
Among the highlights will be a bracelet set featuring pebbles collected by Victoria and Albert on their first journey alone together, a thistle brooch incorporating their eldest daughter Princess Victoria's first milk tooth, removed by Albert himself, and Victoria's mourning ring, featuring Albert's photograph and their intertwined cyphers, crafted following his death at the age of 42 in 1861.
The iconic Crown Jewels will not feature in the exhibition and will remain on display at the Tower of London, however visitors will be treated to other dazzling jewels crafted for coronations and significant royal occasions.
How to Get Tickets to Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes
The exhibition Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes will open at The King's Gallery, in Buckingham Palace, on June 25, 2027 and will run until March 19, 2028. Tickets will be available to Royal Collection Trust e-newsletter subscribers from Wednesday, October 28 – sign up to rct.uk/enewsletter by the end of Tuesday, October 27 to be eligible for early ticket access. Tickets will be available to the general public from Tuesday, 3 November via rct.uk.
The publication Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes will be published by Royal Collection Trust in June 2027, available at £35.00 from Royal Collection Trust shops and www.royalcollectionshop.co.uk, and from all good bookshops.
