Along with the walk to the Sandringham church service, the Queen’s televised speech is a Christmas tradition that royal fans have delighted in for decades.
In a pre-recorded message, the 95-year-old monarch reflects on the year that was at her desk, surrounded by photos of her loved ones.
However, it’s not just the photos and their placement that have a special message. In fact, the Queen’s jewellery often has a connection to the events of the year she reflects on.
From the Centenary Rose brooch she wore for her 2002 Christmas broadcast that paid tribute to the Queen Mother to the special piece she donned in the year of her Diamond Jubilee, the Queen knows how to use her impressive jewellery collection thoughtfully.
In fact, many pieces have been worn time and time again.
Keep scrolling to see her most memorable brooches that she’s worn for various Christmas speeches.
1977
The Queen has an extensive array of brooches that she often wears during her Christmas broadcasts. Here she is in 1977, the year of her Silver Jubilee.
2002
In 2002, the Queen lost both her mother, the Queen Mother and sister Princess Margaret. Whilst her late relatives were honoured in the photos on her desk, the monarch also wore the Centenary Rose brooch – a piece she commissioned for the Queen Mother for her 100th birthday.
The brooch, made by Collins and Sons, is framed by 100 diamonds—hence the “centenary” in its name and features a hand-painted Queen Elizabeth Grandiflora Rose, a flower bred for the Queen’s 1953 coronation on rock crystal.
2007
2007 marked 60 years of marriage for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh and royal fans spotted a sweet detail she made with her jewellery.
The Grima Ruby Brooch that she wore in her Christmas speech that year was a gift from her husband in 1966, so sweet!
2012
2012 was a big year for Her Majesty what with her Diamond Jubilee. That year, she wore the Duchess of Cambridge’s Pearl Pendant Brooch and though its been worn on numerous occasions, it’s had a starring role for some of the Queen’s biggest milestones
The monarch wore it to a service to mark her Golden Jubilee at St. George’s Chapel in 2002 as well as for an official portrait to mark her 50th birthday in 1976.
2013
For her 2013 speech, the Queen donned the Flower Basket Brooch which was gifted to her by her parents in 1948 to celebrate the birth of her first child and heir, Prince Charles.
Since 2013 was the year Prince George was born, her great-grandson and heir to the throne, the brooch is a subtle nod to the line of succession.
Queen Elizabeth delivers her 2016 Christmas speech
2017
It may not have been a symbolic choice but 2017 was a great year for the Queen so she wore one of her favourite pieces – the Jardine Star Brooch.
Between her 70th wedding anniversary, Harry and Meghan’s engagement news and the news that William and Catherine were expecting their third child, there was plenty to celebrate!
Queen Elizabeth’s 2018 Christmas message
2019
Described as a “bumpy year”, the Queen spoke frankly in her 2019 speech but royal fans suspected her blue brooch and matching outfit conveyed a hidden message.
Some assumed the colour choice was her subtle way of supporting the European Union, as Britain was just days away from leaving. Others suspected her choice of the sapphire and diamond Prince Albert brooch was a symbol of true love to husband Prince Philip, whose health deteriorated that year.
2020
For the first Christmas speech in a COVID world, the Queen spoke of “missing friends and family-members distanced for safety, when all they’d really want for Christmas is a simple hug or a squeeze of the hand.”
Since she and Prince Philip were isolating at Windsor Castle without the extended family, there was only one photo featuring herself and her husband but she chose to honour her late mum with her brooch. The Queen Mother’s Shell Brooch features diamonds and a single pearl and was worn by the Queen Mother on her 100th birthday.
2021
For her first Christmas without Prince Philip, the Queen re-wore her sapphire chrysanthemum brooch. She wore this piece on her honeymoon back in the 1940s and again when she and the Duke of Edinburgh recreated the photo to mark their diamond wedding anniversary in 2017.
