The Duchess of Teck’s Emperor of Austria Brooch is “formed as a plaited circle, with pearl centre and 12 brilliant in cut-down collet settings around the edge, suspending a collet chain and three detachable baroque pearl pendants.”1
The brooch was given to Princess Mary Adelaide, the Duchess of Teck, by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1870 when he acted as godfather to her son, Prince Francis of Teck. It was probably left to him upon his mother’s death, and he likely left it to his mistress, Lady Kilmorey. Queen Mary repurchased the brooch, and it was bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Queen Elizabeth wore the brooch as she was photographed holding the infant Prince Edward in 1964 and during the State Banquet in 2011 with President Obama.
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