The Vanguard Rose Brooch – Princess Elizabeth's Antique Diamond Rose of England, 1770
An eighteenth-century diamond jewel presented to Princess Elizabeth at the launch of HMS Vanguard in 1944.
On 30 November 1944, the eighteen-year-old Princess Elizabeth undertook one of her first major public engagements without her parents: the launching of HMS Vanguard, Britain's last battleship, at the shipyard of John Brown & Company in Clydebank, Scotland.
For the occasion, the Princess was presented with an exquisite antique diamond brooch, fashioned as the Rose of England, a gift from the shipbuilders to commemorate the historic event.
The jewel takes the form of a delicate floral spray, with a fully opened rose surrounded by buds and diamond-set leaves, its stems gathered at the base by a ribbon bow.
A remarkable detail concerning the brooch was recorded in The Tatler and Bystander on 13 December 1944. The magazine described the jewel as being of considerable value and stated that it had been made in 1770.
If this contemporary dating is correct, the brooch was already approximately 174 years old when it was presented to Princess Elizabeth. Rather than commissioning a modern jewel, the shipbuilders had chosen a historic diamond ornament representing the national flower of England.
Contemporary newspaper reports also reveal the circumstances of the presentation. Following the successful launch, Princess Elizabeth attended a private luncheon, where she received the diamond brooch and was shown a model of the battleship.
The gift held particular significance for the young Princess. She expressed her pleasure that her first important independent public duty had been connected with the Royal Navy and regarded the brooch as a lasting reminder of the occasion.
The Vanguard Rose Brooch subsequently became part of Queen Elizabeth II's personal jewellery collection. More than a valuable antique, it represented a link between eighteenth-century jewellery craftsmanship, Britain's naval history and a defining moment in the young Princess's public life.
Above on the left : Princess Elizabeth as godmother at the christening of Elizabeth Lavinia Sarah King, Comber, Northern Ireland, 19 March 1946, during her visit for the launch of HMS Eagle, wearing the diamond rose brooch.
Contemporary sources: The Scotsman, 2 December 1944; Liverpool Daily Post, 2 December 1944; Birmingham Daily Gazette, 2 December 1944; Nottingham Journal, 2 December 1944; Portsmouth Evening News, 2 December 1944; The Tatler and Bystander, 13 December 1944.
