If you have ever wondered what the royal jewellery collection actually looks like up close, a rare chance is coming. The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace, formerly the Queen's Gallery, is preparing an exhibition called 'Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes', and it is the first of its kind to ever explore 500 years of British royal jewellery. It runs from 25 June 2027 to 19 March 2028, so there is plenty of time to plan around it.
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The scale is the first thing worth noting. More than 300 pieces from the 16th century to the present day will be on show, and roughly two-thirds of them have never been exhibited before. The collection spans monarchs from Henry VIII and Charles II through to Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II, and it is not just the jewellery itself on display: paintings, designs and documents from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives are brought in to give the pieces their proper context. The exhibition traces the whole history of royal jewellery, from the early royal goldsmiths to the big names that followed, including Garrard & Co, Cartier, Boucheron and Fabergé.
A few of the centrepieces are worth knowing before you go. The Diamond Diadem made for George IV's coronation is one, along with Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown and Queen Charlotte's garnet jewels. Among the pieces appearing for the first time are Queen Charlotte's garnet jewel set, Queen Alexandra's articulated snake bracelet with diamonds and a black pearl, a Fabergé aquamarine and diamond pendant given to the future Queen Elizabeth II by her grandmother Queen Mary, and the Greville emerald and diamond necklace. There is also a more personal side to it: jewellery linked to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, including his childhood ring, a diamond brooch, a bracelet with pebbles, a thistle brooch with a milk tooth and a mourning ring with a photograph of Albert. And for a starker moment, the cufflinks worn by Charles I on the scaffold are part of the show. One thing to keep in mind: the Crown Jewels are not part of this exhibition and stay where they have always been, on show at the Tower of London.
Booking is where you need to be organised. Tickets are £24.00 for adults, £15.50 for young people aged 18 to 24, £12.00 for children aged 5 to 17 and for disabled visitors, with access companions and under-fives free and £1 tickets for those on Universal Credit and other named benefits. Adults and groups of 15 or more get first access through the e-newsletter from Wednesday 28 October, with early access for anyone who signs up by Tuesday 27 October, before tickets go on sale to everyone else from Tuesday 3 November. For groups of 15 or more, advance booking is essential, and you can reach the gallery by phone on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or by email. The gallery is accessible, registered assistance dogs are welcome, and there is a free multimedia visit available, though guided tours inside the Gallery are not permitted. The exhibition is accompanied by a book of the same name, the first comprehensive study ever published of the British royal jewellery collection.
Published Date
25 October 2026
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