Antique 18K Gold Sapphire Emerald Ruby BumbleBee Brooch

BEE BROOCH, c 1900, by René LALIQUE, France 🇫🇷

Gold, pearl, enamel brooch, 3.5 cm high.

When Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was just a few weeks old in September 1900, she received one of her very first pieces of jewelry — a charming diamond and gem-set bee brooch — from her godmother, Mrs. Arthur James. Born Mary Venetia Cavendish-Bentinck, Mrs. James was a second cousin of Lady Elizabeth’s mother and a prominent figure within The Marlborough House Set, the close-knit social circle surrounding King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. Through this thoughtful gift, Venetia James unknowingly began what would become the jewelry collection of a future Queen of England.

The brooch itself, measuring 6 cm in length, is a delicate and intricate design: a bee with a thorax and abdomen set with cat’s eye chrysoberyls, cabochon rubies for eyes, and diamonds accenting its head and wings. The bee rests upon a slender bar that terminates in a pearl at one end — a perfect example of Edwardian craftsmanship and symbolism.

In 1945, the Queen Mother passed this sentimental piece on to Princess Margaret, who carefully noted its provenance in her records:

“Almost first bit of jewelry given to Mum by Venetia James. Given to me 10th Feb. 1945.”

Though no known photograph exists of either Lady Elizabeth or Princess Margaret wearing the brooch, its story remains a fascinating glimpse into royal history — a token of affection from one of the Edwardian era’s most glamorous circles, and a tiny jewel that marked the beginning of a lifetime of royal adornments. The piece was later sold by Princess Margaret’s children during the 2006 auction of her jewels, closing the final chapter in its royal journey.