A tiny gold ring worn by Queen Victoria during her infancy will be among the remarkable royal treasures going on display at Buckingham Palace next year.
Known as Queen Victoria’s first ring, the delicate piece of jewellery features five emeralds arranged as the petals of a flower, surrounding a single ruby at its centre.
The ring is one of more than 300 pieces of jewellery spanning five centuries of royal history that will feature in Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes, a landmark exhibition opening at The King’s Gallery in June 2027.
Around two thirds of the objects in the exhibition will be displayed publicly for the first time, offering visitors a rare opportunity to discover the personal stories behind some of the Royal Family’s most treasured possessions.
Made from gold, emeralds and a ruby, the ring measures just 1.9 by 1.6 centimetres, making it a remarkably small piece of jewellery.
Its floral design gives it a delicate appearance, with the five emeralds forming the petals around the central ruby. Despite its diminutive size, the ring holds a special place in royal history as a personal possession of the young princess who would become Queen Victoria.
Victoria was born at Kensington Palace on 24 May 1819 and became Queen at the age of 18 in June 1837. Her first ring provides a tangible link to the earliest years of a life that would span one of the most significant periods in British history.
The ring’s story did not end with the Queen’s death in 1901.
Following her death, it was among a group of jewels placed in the ‘Albert Room’ at Windsor Castle. The room held particular significance for Victoria because it was where her beloved husband, Prince Albert, had died in December 1861.
The monarch had left specific instructions that certain pieces of her personal jewellery should be placed in the room and not passed down through the family.
The decision ensured that these objects remained associated with Victoria’s private life and her memories of Albert, rather than becoming ordinary family heirlooms.
The inclusion of her first ring among these possessions offers a poignant connection between the Queen’s infancy and the enduring grief that defined much of her later life.
Although the ring is modest in size compared with the magnificent diamonds and emeralds associated with royal ceremonies, its significance lies in its intimate connection to Victoria herself.
It is one of several deeply personal objects that will feature in Royal Jewellery: From Coronations to Keepsakes, which will explore how jewellery has reflected the lives, relationships and emotions of British monarchs over five centuries.
The exhibition will include jewels associated with monarchs from Henry VIII and Charles II to Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II, alongside paintings, designs and documents from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives.
The Crown Jewels will not be included, as they will remain on display at the Tower of London.
Running for nine months from June 2027, the exhibition will offer a rare glimpse into the stories behind royal jewellery, from symbols of power and dynastic ambition to treasured keepsakes that reveal a more personal side of monarchy.
