The lost tales of the ‘Chequers Ring’: The jewel linked to Queen Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn

We have all heard the renowned stories of Great Britain's controversial and notorious dynasty, the Tudors. From Henry VIII to Jane Seymour, the Tudors ruled for over 118 years, which ended with the death of the great Queen Elizabeth I. But do you know that a precious and supremely rare jewellery piece which dates from the 16th century is still very much in existence today? It is the fabulous and iconic Chequers’ Ring, which resides quietly at the UK Prime Minister’s country residence and has long been an object filled with mystery.

This rarely viewed piece is one of the most intensely personal objects that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth I. This ring is crafted with mother-of-pearl, gold, rubies, and diamonds, which were removed from the body of the late queen at the time of her death in 1603. It was carved around 1570 and is now known as the Chequers Ring because it lives at Chequers, which is the Prime Minister’s country house.

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The ring was absolutely invaluable to Elizabeth I, as her coronation ring was cut off her hand slightly before her death, but she wore this one to her deathbed, which indicated that it was a great personal item for her. What intrigues the most is the enamel of a mysterious woman within the ring, which is a portrait of the queen herself.

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Many historians suggest that the ring was a gift from a member of the dynasty of Elizabeth, which can be connected to her stepmother, Jane Seymour. But the Seymours never used the phoenix emblem, which was a symbol used by the Queen as well. However, others suggest that this woman is none other than Elizabeth I’s own mother, Anne Boleyn, as the French hood, the jewellery hallmarks, and the light hair shade caused by natural ageing match Anne Boleyn’s portraits.
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The late queen never openly spoke about her feelings regarding her late mother, who was beheaded by her husband, then King Henry VIII, leaving the three-year-old Elizabeth without a mother. Having a portrait of her within a locket ring could have been one way of privately honouring her own mother and feeling like a reunion, making this piece quite personal to her.
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The Chequers’ Ring is rarely viewed in public because it is the personal property of the Chequers Trust and is housed at the residence of the British Prime Minister’s country house, which is not a public museum. The ring is one of the late queen’s most prized possessions, worn throughout her adult life, and certainly contains a picture of her mother, Anne Boleyn, who still remains a politically and religiously controversial figure in the history of Britain. As Elizabeth herself kept the contents a secret throughout her life, keeping its private nature seems like a better thing.
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