Camilla dons the Queen Mother’s shell brooch as she joins King Charles at Royal Ascot

Queen Camilla wore the Queen Mother’s Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell brooch for her performance alongside King Charles at Royal Ascot today.

Dressed in a cream coat dress and matching hat and gloves, the 75-year-old completed her elegant outfit with the dazzling accessory, which was also a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II.

As the name suggests, the brooch is shaped like a shell made of rows of diamonds and a single pearl, while several diamond strings of varying lengths dangle below.

It was designed by Lord Courtauld-Thomson, son of a famous Scottish inventor, and made in 1919 in London by The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co., Ltd, before being left to Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother, in 1944 by his sister, Winifred Hope Thomson.

A prized possession, it was worn by the Queen Mother on the occasion of her 100th birthday and was bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth II when her mother passed away in 2002.

The late Her Majesty wore her mother’s brooch on several special occasions, including the unveiling of the Queen Mother’s statue and her granddaughter Zara’s wedding to Mike Tindall.

King Charles and Queen Camilla appeared in high spirits as they greeted members of their family affectionately at their first Royal Ascot since the coronation.

The pair were seen at the event in a horse-drawn carriage with the Duke and Duchess of Wellington, who took part in the coronation procession last month.

The 74-year-old monarch was dressed in a traditional gray morning suit for the annual Berkshire sporting event.

Along with a double-breasted waistcoat, the king wore a light pink tie, a blue patterned pocket square and wore a black top hat.

The couple were joined by other members of the royal family, including Princess Anne, Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and Camilla’s recently widowed sister Annabel Elliot.

A prized possession, it was worn by the Queen Mother on her 100th birthday (pictured), and was bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth II when her mother passed away in 2002

Queen Elizabeth II, wearing the Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch, at the unveiling of a new statue of Queen Elizabeth (pictured, left) and at the 2011 royal wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall (pictured, right)

After stepping out of the carriage, Charles was pictured warmly greeting his niece Zara and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Meanwhile, Camilla also greeted Mike Tindall in an equally warm manner.

Princess Beatrice, 34, looked effortlessly elegant in a floral midi dress with voluminous sleeves from Belulah which she paired with a pink silk headband from Juliette Botterill Millinery.

Royal Ascot, the crown jewel of the British racing calendar, kicks off today with the Queen Anne Stakes and runs through to Ladies’ Day on Friday.

Approximately 300,000 people will attend the prestigious event, including royalty and world-famous celebrities.

King Charles and Queen Camilla imagined arriving at their first Royal Ascot since the coronation

King Charles also wore a dazzling tie pin today when he attended Royal Ascot. It contained a silver crown and a sapphire stone, as well as a glittering set of diamonds

King Charles pictured greeting his niece Zara Tindall with a tender kiss on the cheek when he arrived at Ascot

Queen Camilla greeted Mike Tindall with a kiss on the cheek as the first day of Royal Ascot kicked off

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli pictured this afternoon at the Royal Ascot

The day is a much more social occasion as a sporting event and race goers take the opportunity to don the style, from chic hats and sundresses to tight suits.

It is the first year that the event, a favorite of the late Queen, has continued since her death in September.

After her coronation in 1953, the Queen traveled to Berkshire racecourses at least once a year to attend the event – only missing out in 2020 due to Covid lockdowns.

The Duke of Kent was asked last year to replace the Queen in the royal procession at the event, which took place just three months before her death.

Heir they are! Charles and Camilla pictured at the Royal Box in Ascot this afternoon

King Charles and Queen Camilla seen after they left the carriage and made their way to the royal box

To mark the first Ascot since her passing, organizers have displayed a heartwarming collection of photos of the Queen visiting Ascot over the years.

These include a black and white photo of the royal family riding the track in 1960 when she was 34 years old. In addition, the organizers selected a photo of the Queen beaming on Ladies’ Day in 2013.

The event proved to be one of the Queen’s most successful Ascots as her horse Estimate won the Gold Cup – making her the first monarch in 200 years to win the award.