Queen Mary's Glittering Wedding Brooches, Illustrated and Catalogued

This weekend marks the 132nd anniversary of the marriage of the future King George V and Princess Mary of Teck, an occasion that kicked off one of the greatest royal jewelry collections in history

When Princess May of Teck married the future King George V on July 6, 1893, she received a treasure trove of bejeweled wedding presents, which formed the basis for one of history’s greatest jewelry collections. Today, I’ve got a look at five of the forty-plus brooches she received as wedding gifts, comparing the illustrations and descriptions published at the time of the wedding to the way they’ve been photographed on royals over the years.

Queen Elizabeth II makes a speech during a state banquet in Islamabad, Pakistan, October 1997 (PA Images/Alamy)

The Dorset Bow Brooch

When all of the glittering presents offered to Princess May of Teck to celebrate her marriage to the Duke of York were catalogued and counted in 1893, the number of brooches totaled more than 40. Diamonds, pearls, sapphires, emeralds, turquoises, amethysts, rubies—friends and family had showered her with ornaments to pin on her bodices, gowns, and hats.

Among these were several gifts presented by committees from different towns and counties in Britain. Some of these had ties to the bride and her family, while others were simply gestures to show loyalty to a future King and Queen. Many of the committees were spearheaded by aristocrats with ties to the various regions, especially the wives of the Lord Lieutenants of different counties.