Queen Camilla turned a rainy day at York Racecourse into a royal jewellery moment on 19 August, wearing a 49-year-old sapphire and diamond brooch with a newly confirmed link to Queen Elizabeth II. The insect-shaped piece, pinned above Camilla's heart during the opening day of the Ebor Festival, was first presented to the late monarch at the Birmingham Spring Fair in February 1977.
The bigger surprise is how it reached Camilla. Buckingham Palace confirmed this summer that Queen Elizabeth later gave the brooch to her daughter-in-law, ending years of speculation that it had been a wedding gift from King Charles III after the couple married in April 2005. Queen Elizabeth was never publicly photographed wearing the jewel herself, making its decades-long second life in Camilla's wardrobe even more notable.
A Royal Jewellery Mystery Finally Gets an Answer
Camilla has been wearing the sapphire and diamond design since at least 2006, when the then-Duchess of Cornwall chose it for a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. It later appeared at Christmas Day church in Sandringham in 2016 and during the 2024 Japanese state visit, when Camilla wore it as she bid farewell to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
The jewel also appeared in the Queen's official 79th birthday portrait released on 17 July 2026, shortly before its history was publicly clarified.
The brooch is frequently described as a butterfly, although its elongated wings have also led jewellery watchers to identify it as a moth.
Either way, its design combines dark blue sapphires with diamonds set in gold, giving the small piece enough contrast to stand out against Camilla's blue ensemble.
At York, she paired it with a bespoke cornflower-blue Anna Valentine dress, a feathered Philip Treacy hat, floral diamond and pearl drop earrings and a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet.
Queen Elizabeth's Gift Carries Extra Weight
The late Queen's connection changes the story of an accessory Camilla has worn for roughly two decades. In February 2022, months before her death, Queen Elizabeth also used her Platinum Jubilee message to state that it was her 'sincere wish' for Camilla to be known as Queen Consort when Charles became king. After the announcement, Charles and Camilla said they were 'touched and honoured by Her Majesty's words'.
Camilla has since spoken warmly about her mother-in-law's example and the unusual position she occupied as a female sovereign. In a tribute after Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022, Camilla said: 'There weren't women prime ministers or presidents. She was the only one, so I think she carved her own role.' Remembering the monarch more personally, she added: 'I will always remember her smile. That smile is unforgettable.'
Why the York Appearance Matters
Day one of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival had so much to unpack 💚🩷
— York Racecourse (@yorkracecourse) August 19, 2026
Thank you for joining us, and we will see you tomorrow for day 2. pic.twitter.com/ZnwwKfEkgL
The setting gave the heirloom another royal connection. Camilla, now patron of York Racecourse, attended the first day of the four-day Ebor Festival to meet charity partners, racecourse staff and volunteers before presenting the trophy for the Juddmonte International Stakes.
York Racecourse chairman Bridget Guerin had described welcoming the Queen back as 'both a privilege and a personal pleasure', with the 2026 visit continuing Camilla's recent appearances at the meeting.
Horse racing was one of Queen Elizabeth's best-known lifelong passions, and Camilla has increasingly taken on visible roles within the sport alongside King Charles. She and the King became joint patrons of the Jockey Club in 2024, a position previously held by Queen Elizabeth, and Camilla wore a separate Jockey Club brooch during the York engagement as well.
Nearly half a century after the sapphire piece first entered the late Queen's collection, its appearance at York linked two generations of royal women through both jewellery and racing.
