A WOMAN who bought a brooch for €20 from a market stall has now made her €11,000 richer thanks to a special detail.

Flora, a jewelery enthusiast from Rome, bought the brooch at a Midlands antiques market in 1988.

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The silver, coral, lapis lazuli and malachite brooch remained in her personal collection for years.

But little did she know that the brooch was actually worth a staggering price until a chance encounter revealed its true value.

She was watching an episode of The Antiques Roadshow when she saw a similar design.

Her innocent £20 purchase turned out to be a valuable treasure worth thousands of pounds.

The BBC show featured the silver item during a 2023 Christmas special.

Flora said: ‘The whole process of making the discovery, appearing on one of my favorite TV shows and now seeing the brooch sold has been such an unexpected and joyful experience, especially after a difficult time.

“And of course this has confirmed that selling it is absolutely the right decision because I don’t think I would dare wear it now that I know what it’s worth.”

Experts confirmed it was a long-lost original by Victorian Gothic Revival architect William Burges.

The jewelry was given as a wedding gift to a relative of the British military leader.

It was made 160 years ago for Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson’s grandniece Caroline Bendyshe.

Gildings director Will Gilding said: “160 years after the wedding for which it was created, it is wonderful to see this incredibly special piece of jewelery emerging from obscurity as it moves towards its next one chapter with a new owner who will cherish it for years to come.

“It just goes to show that you never know what hidden gems might be hidden in your jewelry box.”

The valuable artefact fetched a whopping £11,780 at Gildings Auctioneers, in Market Harborough.

Flora, who battled breast cancer for two years, now plans to give the money away to her family and cancer charity.

But this isn’t the only time a William Burges brooch has been spotted.

A pensioner previously discovered a similar piece, which subsequently sold for £31,000 in 2011.

Later that year, another viewer realized they had the same one.

Mr Gilding added: “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved this fantastic result for Flora’s very special piece of jewellery.

“After a local lady brought her brooch to us instead of the local market in 2011 after seeing the sketches on Antiques Roadshow, we were amazed when another owner got in touch after seeing images of that first find.

“So when this happens again thirteen years later, as Flora brings us a third example of a lost Burges brooch, it is almost beyond belief.”

It comes as a couple bought a dusty old chair for £5 at auction and found a £5,000 treasure trove in the chairs.

Angela Milner-Brown and husband Angus from South Lanarkshire, Scotland, were struck with luck after discovering diamonds in the plain chair.

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By Lydia Hawken for Mailonline

Published: 07:56 EST, November 22, 2023 | Updated: 3:11 PM EST, November 22, 2023

Queen Camilla today paid a heartwarming tribute to the late queen as she welcomed the South Korean president to Britain on a state visit.

The royal, 76, chose to wear Queen Elizabeth II’s Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch for the special occasion and pin it to her navy blue Anna Valentine coat.

Camilla added a feather-detailed hat from Philip Treacy, made in a deep blue shade, along with black knee-high suede boots and black leather gloves.

The exquisite design of the brooch, featuring intricate gold filigree among a vibrant sapphire and dazzling diamonds, was one of the jewels Elizabeth inherited from Queen Mary.

It was a favorite of the late Queen, who wore it a number of times over the years, including during a meeting with Pope Francis in Vatican City in 2014.

The Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch was originally owned by Romanov Empress Marie Feodorovna – consort of Tsar Alexander III and mother of Tsar Nicholas II.

Marie was also the sister of Queen Alexandra, wife of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom.

In 1934, Queen Mary, Alexandra’s daughter-in-law, reportedly purchased the brooch from Marie Feodorovna’s daughters.

The sentimental design bears a resemblance to the cluster brooch of diamonds and sapphires presented by Prince Albert to Queen Victoria. However, it is distinguished by opulent gold filigree details among the vibrant sapphire and sparkling diamonds.

Before Queen Elizabeth acquired the striking brooch, it was frequently worn by her mother.

The Queen Mother presented the play at numerous daytime events, such as palace garden parties and the Epsom Derby, throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

In 1961, she wore the brooch when she met her newest grandson, Princess Margaret’s first child, Viscount Linley.

The brooch also proved suitable for less formal evening occasions, including a performance of Shaw’s You Never Can Tell at the Theater Royal in Windsor in 1962.

That evening, the Queen Mother paired the brooch with the diamond and sapphire fringe earrings, most recently worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales.

Additionally, she wore it for important personal milestones, such as her birthday gathering at Clarence House on her 78th birthday in 1978.

After the death of the Queen Mother in 2002, the brooch was returned to the collection of Queen Elizabeth II. However, it took more than a decade for her to wear it, and it debuted during a visit to the Vatican in April 2014.

In 2015, Queen Elizabeth displayed the brooch at the Chinese State Banquet at Buckingham Palace and used it to fasten the sash of the Order of the Garter.

She complemented the statement piece with the Belgian Sapphire Tiara and jewels from the King George VI Sapphire Suite.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were waiting to greet the Prince and Princess of Wales at the Royal Pavilion as they officially welcomed the President of South Korea to Britain today.

Kate Middleton, 41, looked chic in a £3,000 red Catherine Walker cape coat, accessorised with Gianvito Rossi pumps and a matching Jane Taylor hat.

The princess wore her hair in a tight bun, which showed off Princess Diana’s oval sapphire and diamond earrings.

Kate wore a similar coat dress to her Christmas Carol concert at Westminster Abbey in 2021. She wore a black version of the same dress to Prince Philip’s funeral.

This evening they will host a glittering state banquet in his honor at Buckingham Palace.

Charles and Camilla will host the couple for the first upcoming state visit since the king’s coronation and the second of his reign.

The Prince and Princess of Wales played a key role in greeting the President and First Lady at their hotel this morning.

William and Kate traveled with Mr Yoon and Ms Kim to the ceremonial welcome at the Horse Guards Parade in central London, where the King and Queen were waiting.

A guard of honor formed by F Company Scots Guards gave a royal salute amid traditional pomp and ceremony, and the King and Mr Yoon inspected the troops on the parade ground.

Charles, Camilla, William and Kate and their guests then travel in a carriage procession through The Mall to the Palace, before a private lunch and a visit to the Royal Collection exhibitions in the Picture Gallery.

Later, Mr Yoon will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey and deliver a speech at the Royal Gallery at the Palace of Westminster to members of both Houses of Parliament.

This evening, 170 guests will gather for the banquet, usually a white tie and tiara affair, in the opulent Palace Ballroom.

The King and Queen are expected to be joined by William, Kate and other members of the royal family, while Charles and Mr Yoon will deliver speeches.

Foreign secretaries are also usually invited, meaning Chipping Norton’s newly appointed Lord Cameron is likely to return to dinner at the royal residence, harking back to his days as prime minister.

On Wednesday, Yoon will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Downing Street and will also meet Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer.

The state visit follows the first upcoming government visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last autumn.

Meghan Markle may have given up her life in Britain, but she still found a moving way to pay tribute to British veterans on Friday when she stepped out with a poppy brooch, which is worn as a show of support for the armed forces.

The 42-year-old wore the brooch as she stepped out for lunch and a quick shopping trip with her model pal Kelly McKee Zajfen in Montecito late last week, making the most of the warm California weather by wearing a pair of chic cargo shorts and a simple pair of black ballerinas.

She paired the shorts with a black sweater, to which she attached her poppy pin, which she wore on the left breast of the garment, a position meant to signify the act of holding fallen veterans close to your heart.

Meghan completed the ensemble with glamorous sunglasses and a thin black belt, and she was seen carrying a large black and white striped bag over one shoulder, while her long brunette locks were pulled back into a casual ponytail.

The outing took place just one day before Remembrance Day in the UK and Veterans Day in the US, an emotional occasion that both Meghan and Harry marked earlier this week when they met with military veterans and their families at Camp Pendleton in San Diego on Wednesday.

Prince Harry, 39, who was stripped of his honorary military titles when he quit his role as a working royal, and Meghan both wore Royal British Legion poppies for the occasion – as they did the next day when they presented the ribbon to a new gym cutting center for veterans at the location.

But on Friday, Meghan’s husband was nowhere to be seen as she enjoyed a girls’ lunch with Kelly — the co-founder of an organization called Alliance of Moms — who was seen carrying a white paper bag of leftovers as the couple left Montecito eatery Pane . e Vino.

Described as the ‘first authentic Italian restaurant’ in the area, the restaurant serves a range of seasonal daily specials, as well as a selection of handmade pasta dishes, including farfalle with fresh salmon and rigatoni pomodoro.

After their lunch date, the two women headed to the nearby Wendy Foster ‘luxury women’s clothing boutique’, where Meghan has reportedly shopped in the past – as she was only seen there last October.

Meghan appeared to be in good spirits during the outing, beaming from ear to ear as she and her friend made their way to the Duchess’s waiting Range Rover – accompanied by a burly security guard.

The two women – who were both carrying a brown paper Wendy Foster shopping bag – were seen chatting and laughing with each other, seemingly without a care in the world.

Wendy Foster, a boutique Meghan visited with the same friend in October, sells a range of high-end clothing brands, including AG Jeans and Nili Lotan.

It marked a much more carefree moment for the Duchess, who met with US military veterans earlier this week with her husband, with a statement from their foundation, Archewell, revealing that the couple “spent the morning with veterans and active duty.” members and their loved ones at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.

The pair were pictured with about a dozen people at a discussion table learning about the work of Operation Bigs, a mentoring program established in 2004, according to Archewell.

The program connects military children and families with others who have gone through similar experiences.

Developed by Camp Pendleton, it has served more than 3,000 Navy and Marine Corps children over the past nine years, according to Archewell, and has expanded to more than 30 member organizations across the country.

Harry served in the British Army for 10 years – including two tours of Afghanistan – and has a long personal bond with the military, a bond he has made great efforts to maintain even after leaving royal life.

He and Meghan have spent previous Veterans Days at military sites: in 2021 they were at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey and in 2020 they visited a military cemetery in Los Angeles.

After visiting Camp Pendleton, Meghan and Harry then traveled to downtown San Diego to open a new gym for Navy SEALs and veterans injured in combat.

The 20,000-square-foot Warrior Fitness Program West Coast Facility is the second location to open, following the launch of a facility in Virginia Beach in 2017.

The foundation has helped more than 800 active-duty active-duty and experienced SEALs and fighter jet crews – and both locations now have advanced technology, equipment and personnel designed to aid in physical and mental recovery, according to The Times of San Diego.

“We are thrilled to have the Duke and Duchess here,” said Tony Duynstee, a former SEAL speaking on behalf of the SEAL Foundation.

‘It is a great honor for them to be here for the commissioning.’

Royal fans are convinced the Princess of Wales paid a subtle tribute to the Queen at the Remembrance Service in London this morning.

The Princess of Wales, 41, debuted a new pair of statement pearl earrings as she appeared on the Whitehall balcony with Queen Camilla.

The mother of three looked elegant in a black military-inspired Catherine Walker coat – which she first wore in 2019 – and a matching hat with a large bow.

However, it was the royal family’s statement pearl earrings – featuring the Prince of Wales’ feather design – that really caught the attention of royal fans.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, royal fan Giorgia pointed out how similar Kate’s earrings are to a brooch that once belonged to the Queen.

The Italian social media user, who manages the account CoutureAndRoyals – said: ‘I think the Princess of Wales is wearing earrings from the same demi-Parure as Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond & Pearl Leaf brooch.

“We’ve never seen them before, or known they existed, but the shape is the same as the leaves of the brooch.”

The Queen wore the statement brooch – featuring three large pearls surrounded by diamond leaves – on her 73rd birthday during a visit to Seoul, South Korea.

In response, a follower said: ‘My thoughts went to the same brooch!!’

Another suggested: ‘Maybe the brooch is removable and the earrings are leaves from the brooch?’

It would not be the first time that the Princess of Wales has personalized a piece of jewelry from the royal collection.

In 2019, the then Duchess of Cambridge wore a pair of diamond and sapphire earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana to attend the launch of the National Emergencies Trust.

After inheriting the priceless earrings, the royal family turned her late mother-in-law’s earrings into chic drop earrings – where Diana once wore them as studs.

The queen’s beautiful brooch consists of three pearls in the center of a pave leaf, partly made of yellow gold.

Kate first wore the jewelry alongside Princess Diana’s diamond and pearl earrings during a trip to Belgium, where she and her husband Prince William visited the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Tyne Cot Cemetery in 2017.

The Princess of Wales also wore the brooch five years later at a special service commemorating the start of the Queen’s slumber at Westminster Hall.

On the lapel of her military-inspired Catherine Walker coat, Kate chose three red poppies to pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives in conflict while fighting for their country.

The mother-of-three also wore a silver brooch, which she received when she became Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm earlier this year.

The royal styled her hair in a chic updo and completed her ensemble with a large black hat, which featured an elegant velvet bow.

The royal family held a two-minute silence to commemorate the fallen soldiers.

As the royal family visited the Cenotaph to take part in the service, they joined army officers and prominent British politicians.

They included Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer.

Former British Prime Ministers including Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and Sir John Major were also in attendance.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paid tribute to veterans in the US and around the world this week.

On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the Navy SEAL Foundation for the official opening of a new training base, known as the “West Coast Warrior Fitness Program,” ahead of Veterans Day on November 11.

The couple met with veterans, service members and their loved ones at Camp Pendleton.

Wreaths of poppies have already been brought through the gates of Downing Street ahead of the service, as a long line of veterans and armed forces personnel – winding from the gates of Downing Street down along Horse Guards Parade – has gathered.

Queen Camilla opted for sentimental jewelry for her first day in Kenya, including Queen Elizabeth II’s glittering seashell brooch and a necklace with her grandchildren’s initials on it.

The King’s wife, 76, dressed in a stylish cream dress, was warmly greeted by Kenyan President William Ruto and his wife First Lady Rachel Ruto at the State House in Nairobi during the first full day of her and King Charles’ tour .

Adding a touch of glitter to her ensemble, Camilla wore the Queen Mother’s Courtauld Thomson Scallop-Shell Brooch, 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 strands 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 presented to Queen Elizabeth, the future Queen Mother, by his sister in 1944. left. Winifred Hope Thomson.

It is a prized possession worn by the Queen Mother to mark her centenary, and was bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth II when her mother died in 2002.

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

It is not the first time that Camilla has worn the item; she wore it during her performance at Royal Ascot this summer.

While Queen Camilla is known to wear heirlooms from the royal family, along with gifts from her husband King Charles, one piece of jewelry she often wears surprisingly has no royal ties.

Camilla’s treasured piece – which she has worn during her tour of Kenya so far – is a gold chain engraved with the initials of her grandchildren, born to her children Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.

It is engraved with five letters representing her grandchildren on her non-royal family side: ‘L’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘L’ and ‘E’ for Lola, Freddy, Gus, Eliza and Louis.

In the center of the beloved pendant is a small round ruby, the queen’s birthstone.

Meanwhile, the Queen yesterday told children to ‘explore’ the world as they do in storybooks, after sitting down for a fun Kenyan story.

A passionate reader and literacy advocate, Camilla joined students at Eastlands Library in Nairobi as they read passages from the popular children’s book Lion And Mouse by Catalina Echeverri.

She smiled broadly and gave them a huge round of applause at the end of their reading performance, as they sat cross-legged on the floor.

‘You are all very good readers. Work hard and keep reading,” the queen told the fourteen children.

Mary Kinyanjui, of the Kenya National Library Service, said afterwards: ‘She encouraged them to keep reading and discover more about the world, as they do in storybooks.’

The Queen was at Eastlands Library to meet the founders of Book Bunk, a Kenyan charity that transforms public libraries into ‘Palaces for People’.

Outside she paused to shake hands with excited people and children.

She was welcomed inside by Book Bunk founder and publisher Angela Wanjuka and author Wanjiru Koinange.

She met with local artists and performers before viewing the library’s giant chessboard and time capsule and greeting the winner of the 2021 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, Ms. Kayla Bosire.

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.

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.

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.

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.