190 - Royal interest: A Queen Alexandra Royal Presentation brooch, early 20th century, of oval form, centred with initial ‘A’ beneath the imperial crown, set with rose-cut diamonds, within a border of calibré-cut rubies and diamonds, edged with white enamel border with gold spot detail, spaced by further rose-cut diamond highlights, gold mounted, contained in fitted leather case by Collingwood & Co., with gilt embossed Royal cypher to the cover, length 22mm.

Royal interest: A Queen Alexandra Royal Presentation brooch, early 20th century, of oval form, centred with initial ‘A’ beneath the imperial crown, set with rose-cut diamonds, within a border of calibré-cut rubies and diamonds, edged with white enamel border with gold spot detail, spaced by further rose-cut diamond highlights, gold mounted, contained in fitted leather case by Collingwood & Co., with gilt embossed Royal cypher to the cover, length 22mm. £2,000-£3,000 --- Provenance: Provenance: By family repute, the brooch was a gift from Queen Alexandra to Lady Alice Stanley, Lady of the Bedchamber, thence through the Grenfell family line, and by direct family descent to the vendor. Lady Alice Maud Olivia Stanley, née Montagu (1862-1957) was the youngest daughter of the 7th Duke of Manchester. She married The Hon. Edward Stanley in 1889, becoming Countess of Derby when her husband succeeded to the title of 17th Earl of Derby in 1908 and to the Derby family seat, Knowsley Hall, in Lancashire. Lady Alice was a close personal friend of Queen Alexandra, serving as Lady of the Bedchamber between 1901 - 1909/10 (notably the majority of King’ Edward VII’s reign). A prestigious position within the British Royal household, requiring service as a personal attendant, social companion and close confidant to the queen regnant or queen consort, the position historically was granted to women of high nobility. Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby (1865–1948) was a prominent British Conservative politician, soldier, diplomat, and racehorse owner. He served as Secretary of State for War during the First World War and subsequently as British Ambassador to France. He was also one of the most prominent and successful owner-breeders in the history of British horse racing. As an aristocratic family, Lord and Lady Derby would have been part of the inner circle of Edwardian court life, with Lord Derby sharing his passion for horse racing with the King. Caption: King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra with their hosts Lord and Lady Derby and members of the Royal house party at Knowsley Park, 1909. (Lady Derby stands to the right of the King). Copyright: Alamy Ltd Condition Report Signs of solder work visible to the reverse beneath the fittings for diamonds to the outer white enamel border. Slight enamel loss to the bottom edge of the white border, and further very slight surface wear elsewhere. With safety chain. Gross weight 4.8gm. ------ For more information, additional images and to bid on this lot please go to the auctioneer's website, www.noonans.co.uk