From one Queen to another: Camilla dons her grandmother-in-law’s glittering Shell Brooch as she joins King Charles at Royal Ascot
- Camilla sported the Queen Mother’s Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch
- READ MORE: Kisses from the King and Queen! Charles and Camilla are affectionate as they greet fellow royals for first Royal Ascot since the Coronation
Queen Camilla sported the Queen Mother’s Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch for her appearance alongside King Charles at Royal Ascot today.
The 75-year-old, dressed in a cream coat dress and a matching hat and gloves, completed her elegant outfit with the dazzling accessory, which was also a favourite of Queen Elizabeth II’s.
As the name suggests, the brooch takes the shape of a shell made of rows of diamonds and a single pearl, while several strings of diamonds in varying lengths dangle underneath.
It was designed by Lord Courtauld-Thomson, son of a famous Scottish inventor, and made in 1919 in London by The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co., Ltd, before being left to Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother, in 1944 by his sister, Winifred Hope Thomson.
A prized possession, it was worn by the Queen Mother to mark her 100th birthday, and was left to Queen Elizabeth II when her mother passed away in 2002.
Queen Camilla sported the Queen Mother’s Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch for her appearance alongside King Charles at Royal Ascot today
Her late Majesty wore her mother’s brooch to several special occasions – including the unveiling of the Queen Mother’s statue and to her granddaughter Zara’s wedding to Mike Tindall.
King Charles and Queen Camilla appeared in high spirits as they lovingly greeted members of their family at their first Royal Ascot since the Coronation.
The couple were seen arriving at the event in a horse-drawn carriage with the Duke and Duchess of Wellington, who participated in the Coronation procession last month.
The monarch, 74, was dressed in traditional grey morning suit for the annual sporting event in Berkshire.
Along with a double-breasted waistcoat, the King donned a light pink tie, a blue patterned pocket square and was seen carrying a black top hat.
The couple were joined by other members of the Royal Family – including Princess Anne, Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and Camilla’s recently widowed sister Annabel Elliot.
A prized possession, it was worn by the Queen Mother to mark her 100th birthday (pictured), and was left to Queen Elizabeth II when her mother passed away in 2002
Queen Elizabeth II, wearing the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch, at the unveiling of a new statue of Queen Elizabeth (pictured, left) and at the Royal wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall in 2011 (pictured, right)
After stepping out of the carriage, Charles was pictured greeting his niece Zara warmly and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
Meanwhile, Camilla was also seen greeting Mike Tindall in a similarly warm fashion.
Princess Beatrice, 34, looked effortlessly elegant in a midi floral gown with voluminous sleeves by Belulah which she paired with a pink silk headband by Juliette Botterill Millinery.
Royal Ascot, the jewel in the crown of the UK racing calendar, starts today with the Queen Anne Stakes and will run until Ladies’ Day on Friday.
Around 300,000 people are set to attend the prestigious event, some of them royalty and world-famous celebrities.
King Charles and Queen Camilla pictured arriving at their first Royal Ascot since the Coronation
King Charles pictured greeting his niece Zara Tindall with an affectionate kiss on the cheek as he arrived at Ascot
Queen Camilla greeted Mike Tindall with a kiss on the cheek as the first day of Royal Ascot got underway
Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli pictured at the Royal Ascot this afternoon
The day is a much a social occasion as a sporting event and racegoers take the opportunity to turn on the style, from chic hats and summer dresses to sharp suits.
It’s the first year the event, a favourite of the late Queen, will go ahead since her death in September.
Following her Coronation in 1953, the Queen travelled to the racecourses in Berkshire at least once a year to attend the event – and only missed it in 2020 due to Covid lockdowns.
The Duke of Kent was asked to replace the Queen in the Royal procession at the event last year, which took place just three months before her death.
Heir they are! Charles and Camilla pictured in the Royal Box at Ascot this afternoon
King Charles and Queen Camilla seen after leaving the carriage and making their way to the royal box
To mark the first Ascot since her passing, organisers have displayed a heartwarming collection of photos of the Queen visiting Ascot over the years.
These include a black-and-white photo of the royal riding on the tracks in 1960 when she was 34 years old. What’s more, the organisers also selected a photograph of the Queen beaming at Ladies’ Day in 2013.
The event turned out to be one of the Queen’s most successful Ascots as her horse Estimate won the Gold Cup – making her the first monarch in 200 years to scoop the prize.
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