Image courtesy of Noonans
LONDON – An exquisite brooch that was given by Prince Albert (later George VI), one of eight brooches given to the bridesmaids who attended his marriage to The Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) in 1923, will be offered at Noonans Mayfair (16 Bolton Street) in an auction of Jewellery, Watches, Silver and Objects of Vertu on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
It is estimated at £3,000-5,000 and is being sold by an overseas private collector [lot 262].
Image courtesy of Noonans
The rock crystal and diamond brooch, measuring 25mm, known as The York Rose Brooch, was made by Garrard & Co., circa 1923, and consists of a carved rose centred with rose-cut diamond initials ‘EA’ – Elizabeth and Albert – and mounted in platinum.
Image courtesy of Noonans
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 26 April 1923 at Westminster Abbey.
Image courtesy of Noonans
As the second son of King George V and Queen Mary, Albert (or ‘Bertie’ as he was known to his family and close friends) 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 Bertie’s marriage proposal three times before finally accepting in January 1923.
Their union proved to be one of the happiest royal marriages in history.
When propelled onto the throne in 1936 after the abdication of Edward VIII, the steadfast service of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth would inspire the nation and Commonwealth through the dark years of the Second World War.
As Frances Noble, Head of Jewellery Department at Noonans says: “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.”
The Duke of York continued a Royal tradition seen at the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg in 1840 where the bridegroom presented turquoise set eagle brooches as a gift to each of Queen Victoria’s 12 train bearers (bridesmaids) to mark the special occasion.
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’.”
