Princess Anne's sapphire brooch said to be inspired by one of the Royal Family's most romantic stories
Princess Anne's sapphire brooch is thought to be one of her favorites but she's not the only royal linked to it
![Princess Anne](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bNAJMpXBuiDHDMR3ibF8JJ-415-80.jpg)
Princess Anne's sapphire brooch has the kind of history romance novels are made of as it's believed to be inspired one of the Royal Families most enduring loves - Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
- Princess Anne's sapphire brooch is one of her most beloved pieces, it seems, as she wears it regularly.
- Most recently, she wore it at Buckingham Palace at an event honoring British Olympians and Paralympians.
- In other royal news, The Earl and Countess of Wessex's recent engagement sparks rumors about new royal titles for the couple.
In terms of jewelry, for the Royal Family, it's go big or go home. The Princess Royal didn't disappoint while attending an event in honor of British Olympians and Paralympians. After all, she's a patron of Team GB, and did you know that Princess Anne was an Olympian herself? She may not have won gold that time, but she's been racking up medals in the styles stakes ever since - especially with her accessories of choice.
A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily)
A photo posted by on
Queen Elizabeth's brooches may be among the most cherished in the Royal Family's history, but this precious accessory is thought to be associated with another beloved queen. Princess Anne's sapphire brooch is believed to be connected to the incredibly beautiful piece that Prince Albert gave to Queen Victoria, the day before their wedding in 1840. According to The Court Jeweller, "the bauble, a sapphire and diamond brooch set in gold, was received by Victoria with enthusiasm. In her diary, she noted that Albert had given her, 'a splendid brooch, a large sapphire set round with diamonds, which is really quite beautiful.'"
Queen Victoria was so in love with the piece, and indeed her groom, that she wore it on her wedding day and many times afterward, throughout her long life. Leslie Field, author of Queen's Jewels: The Personal Collection of Elizabeth II, describes the piece as, "a large oblong sapphire surrounded by twelve round diamonds.”
After her passing, Queen Victoria's will stated that the jewel was an 'heirloom of the crown. This means that from then onwards, it's one of the pieces of jewelry that's specifically intended for the use of Queens, and Queen consorts. It's believed that, despite their incredible similarity, Princess Anne's sapphire brooch is in fact a copy of the original.
Sue Menkes, author of The Royal Jewels, said, “Prince Albert made copies of the brooch for his own daughters, and the Queen has given one of these to the Princess Royal.”
Perhaps this is the reason that Princess Anne's engagement rings, from her first and second husband, both feature the blue stone. Although it may now be considered a regular choice - Princess Diana's engagement ring, now famously sported by the latest Princess of Wales Kate Middleton has a huge sapphire - Princess Anne's engagement rings both broke royal protocol.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Aoife is an Irish journalist and writer with a background in creative writing, comedy, and TV production.
Formerly woman&home's junior news editor and a contributing writer at Bustle, her words can be found in the Metro, Huffpost, Delicious, Imperica and EVOKE.
Her poetry features in the Queer Life, Queer Love anthology.
Outside of work you might bump into her at a garden center, charity shop, yoga studio, lifting heavy weights, or (most likely) supping/eating some sort of delicious drink/meal.
-
32 dining room ideas for a stylish, welcoming space
Looking for fresh and exciting ways to liven up your dining room interiors? We've got you covered
By Elena Kiratzi Published
-
5 award-winning products and brands given special recognition by our panel of beauty experts
These beauty brands and products have gone above and beyond, winning our special seal of approval
By Rhiannon Derbyshire Published
-
Princess Anne's nickname for King Charles is unusual to say the least but it reflects their 'very close' bond
The Princess Royal has the sweetest nickname for her brother King Charles and has been described by an expert as his 'right-hand woman'
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Was Timothy Laurence married before Princess Anne and how did they meet?
Sir Timothy Laurence has been married to Princess Anne for decades and here's all you need to know about their royal romance
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Where does Princess Anne live? All we know about the sprawling Gatcombe Park Estate that she and other royals call home
Princess Anne lives in the gorgeous Gloucestershire countryside and she shares her historic estate with several other royals
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Princess Anne in hospital with 'minor injuries' and concussion after incident at royal estate
The Princess Royal is currently in hospital after an incident at her Gatcombe Park estate, Buckingham Palace has confirmed
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
32 touching moments between Princess Anne and Zara Tindall
The Princess Royal and her only daughter, Zara Tindall, share a love of sports, but it goes far beyond that as these photos prove
By Jack Slater Published
-
Princess Diana’s lookalike twin nieces have convinced us to jump on the micro bag trend after the Chelsea Flower Show
Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia Spencer took different styling approaches with their micro bags at Chelsea Flower Show but we love both
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Royal brides and their 'something blue': From Kate Middleton's secret detail to Zara Tindall's protocol-breaker
Many royal brides' 'something blue' isn't noticeable to anyone else but they've included it as a special nod to the wedding tradition
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
This Longchamp tote lookalike that's just like Kate Middleton and Princess Anne's favourite is a bargain buy that'll serve you all year round
The Princess of Wales and Princess Anne are huge fans of the classic Longchamp Le Pliage and this timeless alternative is so affordable
By Emma Shacklock Published