Royals love insects

Precious insects they swarm in the royal coffers. It might seem like an oddity, and yet, they are bees, butterflies, dragonflies or beetlesladies royal they seem to be truly fascinated by this world of small living creatures.

Kate Middleton, like Elizabeth (and not only) with the brooch that preserves legends

On the occasion of the feast of Saint David, patron saint of Wales, the princess, in the footsteps of Elizabeth II, but also Diana and Camilla, showed off a precious leek-shaped brooch. An unusual choice at first glance, were it not for the deep connection with the country's traditions

Arrow

The proof comes from their large collections of jewels, and specifically of brooches, many of which depict these micro animals. Top of the list insect lover we find the Queen Camilla, who just a few days ago appeared with a pair of bee-shaped jewelery pinned to her camel coat. But also Maxima of Holland he doesn't seem to despise the genre. Among his cult pieces? A big scarab, which seems to be a symbol of good omen.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla

Paul Grover/Daily Telegraph / ipa-agency.net

The trend of wearing jewelry depicting insects seems to be going back in the Victorian era. The predilection for this type of precious stone was triggered primarily by the British interest inEgypt, coinciding with the construction of the Suez Canal between 1859 and 1869. In ancient Egypt, in fact, the scarab was considered a symbol of good luck so much so that it is very easy to find it among the dominant subjects of the jewels of the time. Added to this reason is that love mixed with nostalgia for nature and that country life abandoned following industrialization and the consequent movement of many people towards city centers. Insects were seen as gentle, caring and virtuous animals, and evocation of a bucolic landscape much romanticized at the time.

Today, whatever the motivation, the craze gives precious insects it doesn't seem to have weakened. On the contrary. They continue to be among the most loved subjects of queens, princesses and duchesses. In all shapes and sizes. Here are some.

Queen Camilla's bees

Just recently the Queen Camilla he pinned two precious shaped brooches to his coat Bee. The largest, as stated on the Instagram account British Royal Jewels, is embellished with a cabochon tiger's eye and cabochon rubies. The stinger is decorated with black enamel lines. The second, smaller one, with sapphires and diamonds, is the first time it has been worn by the current sovereign and seems to have belonged to Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Camilla 2024

Queen Camilla, 2024

Chris Jackson / ipa-agency.net

Queen Maxima of Holland's butterfly

This butterfly-shaped brooch, studded with diamonds and emeralds, dates back to the end of the 19th century. It was a gift from King William III of the Netherlands to his second wife, Queen Emma. The two married in 1879 as we read above TheCourtJeweller.com. The brooch, one of the current sovereign's favorites, is still kept in the royal safes today, and, before Queen Maxima, was worn by numerous members of the royal family, including Queen Juliana and Princess Beatrice.

Maxima of Holland 2024

Maxima of Holland, 2024

Mischa Schoemaker / ipa-agency.net

Queen Camilla's stick insect

On the occasion of the commemorations for the death of Elizabeth II, in September 2022, the current Queen Camilla pinned this brooch to her dark dress shaped like a stick insect covered in diamonds. It seems that her necklace was given to her by her father before she became part of the English royal family.

Queen Camilla 2022

Queen Camilla, 2022

Leon Neal/Getty Images

Queen Letizia of Spain's bee

Insect mania also for Letizia of Spain, spotted a few years ago with a beautiful bee-shaped brooch, perhaps with amber, a gift from the Dominican First Lady Candida Montilla.

Letizia of Spain 2019

Letizia of Spain, 2019

Fotonoticias/Getty Images

The butterfly of Queen Sofia of Greece

Even the wife of King Juan Carlos I of Spain seems to follow the trend of insect-shaped brooches. In 2019 she was spotted with this butterfly-shaped necklace studded with precious colored gems.

Queen Sofia 2019

Queen Sofia, 2019

Borja B. Hojas/Getty Images

Princess Beatrice of York's bee

Princess Beatrice is used to wearing jewelery or accessories that in some way recall her nickname – B, Bee, Bea. What, then, is better than a shaped brooch Bee covered in diamonds could she pin to her dress on her sister Eugenie's wedding day?

Beatrice of York 2018

Beatrice of York, 2018

Pool

The maxi scarab of Queen Maxima of Holland

Queen Maxima of Holland is a true lover of maxi and eye-catching accessories. Along with the collection of XL-sized earrings, the sovereign also has a creative collection of brooches of all shapes, including this one, in the shape of a giant beetle considered a lucky charm.

Queen Maxima of Holland 2017

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 2017

Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Queen Camilla's butterfly

The butterfly is perhaps one of the most loved subjects when it comes to the jewelery sector, and Queen Camilla seems to testify to this. Here she is, a few years ago, with a butterfly brooch covered in diamonds and two small emeralds to form the insect's eyes.

Queen Camilla 2017

Queen Camilla, 2017

/ ipa-agency.net

Queen Silvia's bee

Queen Silvia, on her daughter Victoria's 40th birthday, pinned a precious bee-shaped brooch to her aqua green look.

Queen Silvia 2017

Queen Silvia, 2017

Albert Nieboer / ipa-agency.net

Queen Camilla's butterfly

Another butterfly for the sovereign, this time studded with diamonds and four sapphires.

Queen Camilla 2015

Queen Camilla, 2015

Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Queen Maxima of Holland's dragonfly

Another round, another insect for the Dutch sovereign. Specifically, a beautiful and eye-catching dragonfly covered in diamonds.

Maxima of Holland 2015

Maxima of Holland, 2015

Christian Augustin/Getty Images

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Queen Camilla's dragonflies

There are several occasions in which the sovereign has been spotted with this pair of brooches by Van Cleef & Arpels. Apparently, it seems that the double jewel given by two dragonflies – one covered with diamonds, the other with sapphires – is a gift from her husband Carlo. Often Camilla pins them together on the left side of her, sometimes she separates them from her, applying them to the two lapels of her outerwear.

Queen Camilla 2012

Queen Camilla, 2012

WPA Pool/Getty Images

Princess Michael of Kent's maxi butterfly

Princess Michael of Kent, born Baroness Marie-Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz, showed off this maxi butterfly brooch on the occasion of the diamond wedding anniversary celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip

Michael of Kent 2007

Michael of Kent, 2007

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Queen Margrethe's dragonfly

In this photo, which dates back to a few years ago, Margrethe of Denmark wears a maxi golden dragonfly-shaped brooch pinned to the center of her shirt.

Queen Margethe 2002

Queen Margethe, 2002

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images


Source: Vanity Fair

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