The Queen Mother's jewelry collection was extensive, with many pieces passed down to Queen Elizabeth II and later worn by other members of the royal family, including Camilla, the Queen Consort. Some of her most well-known jewels include the Greville Tiara and Earrings, which she inherited from Margaret Greville. Other notable pieces include brooches like the Sapphire and Diamond Grapes Brooch and the Diamond Thistle Brooch. 

The lecturer on leaving Durham University with a degree in geology decided to join the Army.He then spent five years in the Irish Guards, the last two and a half of which were on secondment to Clarence House as the Queen Mother’s equerry. Being a geologist he admired  the magnificent gemstones in the Queen Mother’s jewellery. Indeed if he admired a piece she would sometimes take it off and give it to him to have a closer look. He qualified as a Fellow of the Gemmological Association. Then, in addition to working as an exploration geologist in South Africa and a gold miner in California,  spent several years as a jewellery and precious stone dealer in London’s Hatton Garden.