The Queen’s New Zealand Silver Fern Brooch
Description
The Princess of Wales, Catherine, wore The Queen’s New Zealand Silver Fern Brooch in April 2014 when she visited New Zealand. The brooch was a Christmas gift to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 from the Women of Auckland during her famous visit to New Zealand after her coronation. It was a historic moment as this was the first visit of reigning monarch to the country.
As per Sir Hugh Roberts, the Author of Queen’s diamonds, “The gift which delighted The Queen, was presented by Lady Allum (Wife of the then Mayor of Auckland, Sir Jogn Allum) to the Queen. Lady Allum chaired the committee of Women’s organizations in Auckland responsible for raising funds to pay for the brooch and it was presented to the Queen at the Government House. The surplus funds were donated to Westminster Abbey to repair the wartime damages“.
The Platinum brooch is set with brilliants and baguettes cut diamonds forming a shape of the fern tree leave – Cyathea dealbata. The Fern leave is the national emblems of New Zealand. The Queen debuted the brooch shortly in January 1954 during a day out in New Zealand. Since then she wore it on various occasions marking the New Zealand related events including the 2006 dedication of the New Zealand Memorial at Hyde Park Corner.
The last time we saw The Queen wearing the brooch was in June 2011, when she appointed the then Governor-General Designate of New Zealand, Sir Jerry Mateparae, as Additional Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit before his sworn-in ceremony that year. The brooch was on display at the Windsor Castle in 2022 to mark the Late Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee.
When The Princess of Wales (The then Duchess of Cambridge) arrived in New Zealand for her first official visit in April 2014, she was wearing the Brooch with her Catherine Walker Russian Great Coat. Catherine again wore the brooch during the same trip again with her Jenny Packham Black Fern Dress and Emilia Wickstead Alice Dress.