Buckingham Palace will exhibit over 300 pieces of royal jewellery spanning five centuries in an unprecedented display beginning next June. The exhibition, titled "Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes," will open on June 25, 2027, and run for nine months through March 2028 in the King’s Gallery. It marks the first time such an extensive selection of jewels from the royal collection has been brought together in one show.
Highlights include the Diamond Diadem, crafted in 1820 for the coronation of George IV and famously featured on coins, banknotes, and stamps depicting Queen Elizabeth II. For the first time, visitors will also be able to see the cufflinks believed to have been worn by Charles I on the day of his execution in 1649. Other notable items include Queen Victoria’s Small Diamond Crown, designed to perch on her widow’s cap and known for its symbolic presence on her coffin during her lying in state.
The exhibition will showcase two-thirds of its pieces for the first time, encompassing jewellery from the 16th century to the present day. Curators Caroline de Guitaut and Kathryn Jones emphasized the human stories behind the jewels, noting that they represent themes of love, loss, power, politics, family, and faith. “Each jewel carries with it a human story… They offer a deeply personal insight into the individuals and relationships that have shaped the monarchy across generations,” they said.
Among the treasures on display will be the Greville emerald and diamond necklace, last worn by Elizabeth II in 2019 and inherited from the Queen Mother, who received it from society hostess Dame Margaret Greville. Newly attributed pieces include a set of garnet jewels linked to Queen Charlotte, consort of George III, based on recent research. Other featured items include Queen Alexandra’s articulated serpent bracelet adorned with diamonds and a black pearl, and a Fabergé aquamarine and diamond pendant gifted to the future Elizabeth II by her grandmother, Queen Mary.
The exhibition will present a range of personal keepsakes related to Queen Victoria, highlighting aspects of her relationship with Prince Albert and their family life. Exhibits include Victoria’s first ring—a floral design set with emeralds and a central ruby—worn in infancy, as well as the diamond and sapphire brooch Albert gave her before their wedding in 1840. Additional items connected to the couple include a bracelet set with pebbles collected on their first journey alone, a thistle brooch incorporating a milk tooth of their eldest daughter Princess Victoria removed by Albert, and a mourning ring bearing Albert’s photograph following his death from typhoid in 1861.
The Crown Jewels themselves will not be part of the exhibition and will remain on display at the Tower of London. Instead, the show will focus on coronation jewels and other significant pieces associated with royal occasions.
The new jewellery display follows the sold-out exhibition "Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style," which attracted unprecedented demand and was extended by six months by the Royal Collection Trust. Tickets for the forthcoming exhibition will be available first to Royal Collection Trust e-newsletter subscribers starting Wednesday, and to the general public from November 3.