# The Jardine Star Brooch Mystery

> Queen Elizabeth II's mysterious Jardine Star Brooch, now worn by Camilla, sparks decades-old family secrets.
- Title: The Jardine Star Brooch Mystery · Vanity Fair | Shortify
- Summary: Queen Elizabeth II's mysterious Jardine Star Brooch, now worn by Camilla, sparks decades-old family secrets. Queen Elizabeth II received the Jardine Star…
- Keywords: jardine star brooch, queen elizabeth ii, queen camilla, lady jardine, clan jardine, royal jewelry, diamond brooch, unexplained origin, scottish aristocracy, royal diplomacy, Jardine, Star
- Source: Vanity Fair — https://vanityfair.com/story/royal-jewelry-jardine-star-brooch
- Author: Eva Wolchover
- Published: 2026-10-13T21:14:16.463+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jardine star brooch, queen elizabeth ii, queen camilla, lady jardine, clan jardine, royal jewelry, diamond brooch, unexplained origin, scottish aristocracy, royal diplomacy
## Dress Diplomacy
Queen Elizabeth II used jewelry to send political messages, like wearing chartreuse to stand out.
## The Jardine Star Brooch
A 1981 gift from Lady Jardine, the brooch has been worn by Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Camilla.
## Queen Elizabeth II's Use
She wore the brooch during her Diamond Jubilee weekend in 2012 and a 2021 meeting with President Joe Biden.
## Queen Camilla's Adoption
Camilla wore the brooch at Royal Ascot in 2024 and 2025, and recently at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
## The Jardine Family
The Jardines are an ancient Scottish clan with a 12th-century history and a motto of 'Beware, I am present.'
## Lady Eda Jardine
Lady Eda Jardine, a 1920s race car driver, won the Monte Carlo Ladies Cup in 1931 and died in 1960.
## The Brooch's Origin
The brooch may have been part of a necklace given to Lady Eda by her father or a tiara.

> I have heard that the star itself may have originally been part of a necklace given to Eda by her father, but I couldn’t say that with any certainty
## Family Secrets
The Jardine family has debated the brooch's origin for decades, with no clear answer.
## Royal Jewelry Expert
Joanna Hardy says the brooch likely came from a tiara and was broken up for family use.
## The Mystery Continues
Lady Gemma, the current Lady Jardine, hopes to solve the brooch's origin but admits it remains unexplained.
## Key takeaway

Queen Elizabeth II received the Jardine Star Brooch from Lady Jardine in 1981, but its origins remain unexplained after decades of royal use.