King Charles III speaks before a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 2026 (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Alamy)
Queen Camilla did a quick change before arriving at the US Capitol for the King’s address to Congress on Tuesday, adding one of the Queen Mother’s beloved brooches to her ensemble.
King Charles III speaks before a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 2026 (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Alamy)
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon ahead of his address before a joint session of Congress. Camilla sat nearby on the dais during the speech, in the same place Prince Philip sat when Queen Elizabeth II addressed the legislature more than three decades ago.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a service of thanksgiving on the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Westminster Abbey in London on May 8, 2025 (Aaron Chown/PA Images/Alamy)
For the Capitol visit, Camilla changed out of the pale green outfit she’d worn earlier in the day, opting to wear the same white coat with black accent stitching that she wore for VE Day commemorations in London last May.
King Charles III speaks before a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 2026 (Leigh Vogel/Sipa USA/Alamy)
Camilla also swapped out her jewels, exchanging her favorite diamond and pearl drop earrings for a pair with sleek black pearl drops.
King Charles III speaks before a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 2026 (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Alamy)
On her coat, she also pinned a special royal heirloom: the diamond, enamel, and carved rock crystal brooch that belonged to her husband’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
The Duchess of York visits Sydney during the royal tour of Australia, 1927 (Daily Herald Archive)
Elizabeth wore the brooch often in the 1920s, when the piece was particularly new and fashionable. She liked to pin it to the upturned brims of her hats, as seen here during her visit to Australia in 1927. Choosing a brooch from Elizabeth’s collection was a nice little nod to her history with America. She was the first queen consort to visit the States in an official capacity, joining her husband, King George VI, on a state visit to the US in 1939.
The Duchess of Cornwall visits the Krakow Community Centre in Poland on April 28, 2008 (Lewis Whyld/PA Images/Alamy)
Camilla began wearing the rock crystal brooch in the early years of her marriage to Charles. Here, she wears it with pearls during an official visit to Poland in 2008.
Queen Camilla visits the Bibliotheque Nationale de France on September 21, 2023 (Yui Mok/PA Images/Alamy)
She has continued to wear the piece regularly, often pairing it with black and white outfits, as she did during the French state visit in the autumn of 2023.
King Charles III speaks before a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 2026 (Bonnie Cash/UPI/Alamy)
Here’s one more view of Camilla wearing the brooch during the King’s congressional address.
Next up: the state dinner later tonight. In the meantime, I’ll again ask you to please focus on the jewels and restrain yourself from discussing contemporary politics in the comment section.