The rock crystal and diamond brooch, known as The York Rose Brooch, consists of a carved rose centred with rose-cut diamond initials ‘EA’ – Elizabeth and Albert – and mounted in platinum.
The wedding of Prince Albert, Duke of York (the future King George VI) to the Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) took place on April 26, 1923 at Westminster Abbey.
As the second son of King George V and Queen Mary, Albert was not expected to inherit the throne, allowing him a more private life until his elder brother Edward VIII abdicated.
Elizabeth was the youngest daughter of Claude Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis, later the 14th Earl Strathmore and Kinghorne, and his wife Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck.
She reputedly turned down the future King’s marriage proposal three times before finally accepting in January 1923.
The brooch is estimated at £3,000-5,000 and is being sold by an overseas private collector.
Frances Noble, Head of the Jewellery Department at Noonans, said: “This brooch is one of eight royal presentation brooches, made by Garrard & Co., the Crown jewellers, and given by Prince Albert, (later George VI) to the eight bridesmaids who attended his bride, The Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
“The Duchess of York’s bridesmaids, though some from royal and aristocratic families, were mostly chosen from her group of close friends, rather than the Duke’s royal relations.
“The young ladies chosen for this honour were Lady Mary Cambridge, the Hon Diamond Harding, Lady Mary Thynne, the Hon Elizabeth Elphinstone, Lady May Cambridge, Lady Catherine Hamilton, Miss Betty Cator and the Hon Cecilia Bowes-Lyon.
“It is not known to which recipient this particular brooch was given.”
She added: “The Duke of York’s gift to each bridesmaid was an exquisite carved frosted rock crystal brooch in the shape of the White Rose of York, alluding to the Duke’s title, each centred with diamond set initials of the bride and groom and surmounted by a coronet.
“The bridesmaids proudly wore their brooches at the wedding itself, pinned centrally to the bodices of their ivory chiffon dresses trimmed with Nottingham lace, and a green sash at the waist.”
These York Rose brooches have rarely been seen in public since 1923. In 1990, the Exhibition held at the Guildhall in Windsor, celebrating Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s 90th birthday, included the brooch given to Lady May Abel Smith née Cambridge (1906-1994) and in 2005, the 18th Earl of Strathmore displayed the brooch given to his grandmother Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Bowes-Lyon née Cator (1899-1959) for a BBC programme ‘Britain’s Royal Weddings 1923-2005’.”
The brooch will go under the hammer at Noonans Mayfair on November 25, at an auction of Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu.
