Queen Máxima and Queen Camilla
They rely on strange insect brooches
Camilla opted for bee brooches this week, Máxima wore glittering spiders on her shoulder.
© imago/i Images / imago/PPE
Instead of glamorous diamonds, Queen Camilla and Queen Máxima took disgusting brooches out of their jewelry box this week.
Some people find insects disgusting, but creepy crawlies have always played an important role in the history of jewelry. Egyptian soldiers attributed supernatural powers to beetles to protect them from enemies and often wore them in battle; in the Victorian era, wearers of insect jewelry were considered “noble, nurturing and virtuous.” Two royal women proved this week that beetles, bees and spiders are great eye-catchers. Both the British Queen Camilla (76) and the Dutch one Queen Máxima (52) has been wearing eye-catching creepy-crawly brooches in recent days.
Máxima loves insect jewelry
On Tuesday (March 26), the Queen of the Netherlands stepped out at an event wearing wide-legged taupe pants and a dark gray blazer. On her shoulder Máxima wore two large glittering spider brooches. They are from the Argentine brand Celedonio and have been an integral part of Máxima’s jewelry collection since 2015. Máxima is apparently a big fan of insect jewelry: The Argentine-born woman has worn brooches that looked like beetles, moths or butterflies several times in the past.
Queen Camilla is a bee fan
Just a day later, on Wednesday, Queen Camilla wore two bee brooches on her camel-colored wool coat during an appearance. She didn’t make this choice arbitrarily: the wife of King Charles III. (75) visited a local beekeeping association in Shrewsbury, England. She is also said to be a big lover of bees: According to the Royal Family’s website, Camilla is an “enthusiastic beekeeper” and even sells the honey from her country house for charity.