The Palm-Leaf Brooch

The Palm-Leaf brooch was made for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother by Cartier using loose diamonds from her own collection.

It’s in the shape of a curling oriental palm leaf with nine brilliants in the centre in claw settings. The borders are lobed pavé set brilliants. The clip is a Cartier speciality and allows for versatile usage. The brooch was inherited by The Queen after her mother’s death in 2002.

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother wore it many times, including in 1952 when she was at King’s Cross Station as her husband’s body arrived there from Sandringham. It can be seen in the famous image taken that day.

The brooch is currently in The Queen’s personal collection, and she too wears it often, such as when she welcomed President Trump and First Lady Melania to Windsor Castle in 2018.¹

1. Sources:

   The Queen’s Diamonds by Hugh Robert p.228

   The Court Jeweller