Whether they are gestures of love or spoils of war, ancient symbols or the boldest of bling, the queen's diamonds are a treasure trove of history - as well as being one of the most priceless and beautiful collections in the world.
Cursed, cherished, broken, or recycled, each piece has a tale to tell. In May, the queen will deck herself out in some of her best and brightest diamonds for the annual State Opening of Parliament, so here we take a look at some of the stars of her collection.